Examining the Dallas Cowboys front office: What’s the plan?
In today’s NFL, teams must employ a smart and rational plan in order to build a yearly contender. Are the Dallas Cowboys doing that?
In today’s NFL, teams have restraints on how they can build their rosters. The Dallas Cowboys were late to the party, but things have finally changed. After years of salary cap turmoil and misguided personnel decisions, the Cowboys front office seems to have finally formulated a plan.
Before the 2014 season, president of player personnel Stephen Jones and vice president of player personnel Will McClay hadn’t grabbed enough of the power in the front office and were still at the mercy of owner and general manager Jerry Jones. Though they were making headway, the 2014 drafting of right guard Zack Martin over current CFL quarterback Johnny Manziel was the turning point.
It was that move that gave us the first glimpse of the potential plan the front office is putting in motion to build a championship contender. In the days of salary caps and handcuffing quarterback contracts, teams must employ a formula in order to be Super Bowl contenders for years on end.
The formula is simple: invest money in a side of the ball or position group, grab whatever missing pieces you can while your quarterback is on his rookie contract, and draft to churn the roster and replace guys who aren’t pillars of the team.
The Philadelphia Eagles are a prime example of this method. They’ve invested in their offensive and defensive lines, went out and plugged whatever holes they couldn’t account for in the draft and free agency, and did it all while they had the flexibility of quarterback Carson Wentz‘s rookie deal. The Los Angeles Rams are putting together their own version of the formula and look to have a formidable team in 2018.
So, based on the decisions made by the front office recently, it seems as though this is their plan.
The team has decided to make their investment in the offensive line, solidified by Zack Martin’s new deal. Next in line is defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence, and if he proves he can be trusted, defensive lineman David Irving. The team seems to want to mirror the Eagles and Rams in their investment in both lines. And it seems as though they have designated their skill positions, wide receiver and tight end especially, as the pieces they want to replace in the draft.
And while the team might be reluctant to spend big on outside guys, it is necessary to get one or two guys outside the draft and bargain bin free agency in order to complete the team. The team would have to be almost perfect in the draft in order to resist signing outside guys.
But in the past, Jones has implied that he is willing to spend on proven elite players as he knows the money is worth the performance. And with the way the front office has been able to maneuver their way into 72 million dollars under the cap next year, it puts the team in perfect play to sign the guys they want who are already on the roster; as well as enough to sign one marquee guy (Earl Thomas!). If used wisely, the team will be squarely in the discussion for titles for the foreseeable future.
The team will have to make decisions on guys like cornerbacks Chidobe Awuzie, linebacker Jaylon Smith, and other guys who could be staples of the team. But they should have a few years to figure out who is replaceable in the draft and who needs to remain with the team. These things mostly play themselves out. Such as how 2018 will give the team a good indication on which way to go with cornerback Byron Jones.
Even if Dak isn’t the guy or the team doesn’t win it all, it won’t change the fact that the team is being built within the formula of winning football under current NFL parameters. The players have to play and the coaches have to coach, but it still doesn’t take away the job the front office is doing.
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Moving from the front office black hole of the late 90’s, early 2000’s, and even early 2010’s into a rational, planned, and calculated approach of today is a huge step forward towards contending year after year. We will see if it all works out, but we can sleep easier knowing Jerry isn’t signing his favorite guys to undeserving third contracts and the draft is no longer his personal gun show. The future looks bright.