The 2024 Dallas Cowboys offseason was not one for the record books. Between allowing a mass exodus in free agency and doing absolutely nothing to offset those losses and the front office crying poverty while delaying extensions for Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb, it was a miserable several months.
Suffice it to say the Cowboys underwent significant change last offseason. They could be headed for similar turnover this year given their list of free agents and penny-pinching tendencies.
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It is always interesting to monitor how departed Dallas free agents perform with their new teams. With the 2024 regular season in the rearview mirror, let's take a look at some former Cowboys who struggled to live up to their contracts with their new teams.
These former Cowboys robbed their new teams blind in 2024:
Dorance Armstrong, Commanders
The Cowboys absolutely missed Armstrong this season. A former fourth-round pick out of Kansas, Armstrong is a do-it-all rotational defensive lineman. In seven seasons with Dallas, he accumulated 23.5 sacks, 148 pressures, 48 quarterback hits and 24 tackles for loss.
Armstrong parlayed that production into a three-year, $33 million contract with the Commanders, reuniting with Dan Quinn. Armstrong's snap share jumped from 42% last year with the Cowboys to 61% this season under Quinn. And yet, he was more productive in 2023.
Last season, Armstrong tallied 7.5 sacks, seven tackles for loss and 34 pressures. This year, he posted 5.0 sacks, seven tackles for loss and 46 pressures.
While not poor production, Armstrong was probably hoping to be more effective in his first year as the top dog in Washington's EDGE room. He was just as productive in Dallas while making a fraction of what he's making now.
Tyron Smith, Jets
The Cowboys' front office was dragged through the mud for not re-signing Smith, who had just put together another All-Pro campaign protecting Dak Prescott's blindside. It turns out Jerry Jones and Co. knew what they were doing in this instance.
Smith inked a incentive-laden contract with the Jets. A neck injury limited the veteran left tackle to 10 games and he was largely poor when healthy. An eight-time Pro Bowler, Smith allowed a career-high five sacks and his most pressures since 2019, per Pro Football Focus. He also recorded his lowest pass-blocking efficiency since his second year in the league in 2013.
While Smith didn't sign a lofty contract with New York, he was signed as part of an aggressive offseason with a Super Bowl in mind. That idea fell flat on its face and it would not be at all surprising if the all-time Cowboy decided to retire this offseason.
Dalton Schultz, Texans
The tight end position is currently a sensitive topic of conversation in Dallas after fan favorite Jake Ferguson regressed in 2024. Previously a no-brainer extension candidate, Ferguson needs a big-time 2025 season to secure a future with the Cowboys.
If not, he'll have a similar fate to Dalton Schultz.
Schultz inked a $36 million extension with the Texans last March after he excelled on a one-year prove-it deal in 2023. How did he reward Houston? By posting his lowest catches, yards and touchdowns since his second year in the league in 2019.
That is despite Schultz playing all 17 games and the Texans' top-three receivers missing a combined 17 games throughout the season. Houston has no way out of Schultz's contract this offseason unless they're willing to eat $13.5 million in dead money. It looks increasingly likely that 2025 will be Schultz's last with the AFC South champs.