The Dallas Cowboys are heading into an offseason that feels heavier than most. Not because of optimism. Because of pressure. Owner and general manager Jerry Jones just watched his team finish 7-9-1, miss the playoffs for a second straight year, and extend a Super Bowl drought that now sits at 30 seasons.
Jones did not downplay what comes next. At his end-of-season news conference earlier this week, the 83-year-old made it clear that quiet is not an option. With 22 contracts set to expire when the new league year opens in March, Dallas is staring at one of the most complex roster decisions of Jones’ tenure.
Jerry Jones Says ‘Dramatic’ Is Coming as 22 Contracts Hit the Cowboys’ Desk
According to Cowboys staff writer Patrik Walker, Dallas will have 22 expiring contracts when the new league year begins. That number alone changes everything. Those deals fall into three categories: unrestricted, restricted, and exclusive-rights free agents. Each comes with different levels of team control.
The unrestricted group is where real risk lives. Players with four accrued NFL seasons can sign anywhere once their contracts expire. That list includes George Pickens, Javonte Williams, Jadeveon Clowney, Dante Fowler, Kenneth Murray, Donovan Wilson, and several others. Once free agency opens, Dallas cannot stop those players from leaving without new deals or tags in place.
Restricted free agents such as Brandon Aubrey and Brock Hoffman give the Cowboys leverage through tenders, allowing them to match offers or receive draft compensation. Exclusive-rights free agents Josh Butler and Reddy Steward are even simpler. A minimum one-year offer keeps them in Dallas. No outside negotiations allowed.
Every expiring contract also clears cap space immediately. Until Dallas re-signs a player or allocates that money elsewhere, it does not count against the cap. That flexibility matters, especially after the in-season trade of Micah Parsons, which reshaped both the roster and the budget.
Jones knows the stakes. He said them out loud. “We want to get out of here and do better than we did this year,” Jones said. “(There’s) the incentive to, dare I say it, bust the budget to try to get something done now? Yes. Yes.”
Then he went further. “We’ll do some dramatic things,” Jones added. “That was a dramatic thing we did (trading Micah Parsons). We didn’t do it not to win games. The point is, this calls for some pretty controversial decisions.”
The Cowboys’ Path Forward Hinges on Pickens, the Defense, and Jones’ Clock
If Dallas wants stability, George Pickens sits near the top of the list. He caught 93 passes for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns this season and became a consistent presence alongside CeeDee Lamb. The Cowboys have openly indicated that retaining Pickens is a priority. If no long-term deal is reached, the franchise tag remains on the table for 2026.
Offensively, the numbers are not the problem. Dallas finished seventh in points per game and second in yards. Dak Prescott threw for more than 4,000 yards. Lamb and Pickens both topped 1,000 receiving yards. Williams crossed the 1,000-yard rushing mark.
Defense is where the season collapsed. The Cowboys allowed 511 points, the most in franchise history. That failure already cost defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, who was fired earlier this week. Dallas is now interviewing candidates, with head coach Brian Schottenheimer stating the team is open to both experienced and first-time coordinators.
Jones believes the roster is closer than it looks. “Every team has holes,” Jones said. “You have to. Just the way it works. But I see six teams that weren’t in the playoffs last year that are in the playoffs this year. I know it can happen.”
The urgency is not abstract. Jones turns 84 in October. He has three Super Bowl titles. Robert Kraft has six. Jones has said repeatedly that his goal is to retire as the owner with the most championships.
“Bottom line is this [offseason] is, yes, very important,” Jones said. “We want to, while Dak is playing the game and got it down the way he’s got it, get out here and basically do better than what we did this year.” That is the reality facing Dallas. Twenty-two contracts. A fired coordinator. A defense that broke records for the wrong reasons. And an owner who no longer talks about patience.
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