Every so often, you wish to have to interpret what Jerry Jones says and what he approach.
The Dallas Cowboys proprietor likes to speak to the media. Not anything improper with that. It from time to time ends up in quotes that observe him round, like when he mentioned on the finish of extreme season that the Cowboys could be “all in” for the 2024 season.
What did that ruthless? For lots of, pronouncing “all in” many times approach your workforce is pushing no matter chips it has in the course of the desk for a Tremendous Bowl run, however you’ll be able to decipher Jones’ phrases then again you would like.
“I would anticipate – with looking ahead at our key contracts that we’d like to address – we will be all in,” Jones mentioned on the Senior Bowl, according to the team’s site. “I would anticipate we will be all in at the end of this year. So when you say is there any thought … we will push the hell out of it.
“It’ll be going all in on other folk than you’ve carried out within the generation. We can be going all in. We’ve evident some issues out of one of the crucial avid gamers that we wish to be all in on. Sure, I’d say that you are going to see us this coming yr no longer develop it for the date. It’s one of the simplest ways I’ve ever mentioned. And that ought to reply to a bundle of questions.”
Sounds like the Cowboys were going to be a major player in free agency, right? Nope.
On Monday, there was a free agent frenzy around the NFL. Not every key free agent is spoken for, but it seemed like it. And the Cowboys did nothing.
To most people, “all in” approach spending heavy cash on operating again Saquon Barkley and edge rusher Bryce Huff, just like the Philadelphia Eagles did. Or buying and selling for franchise-tagged go rusher Brian Burns and agreeing to a five-year, $141 million trade in with him, just like the New York Giants did. Even the Washington Commanders have assuredly to offer with seven distant brokers together with linebacker Frankie Luvu and operating again Austin Ekeler. They’ve additionally assuredly to offer with heart Tyler Biadasz and defensive lineman Dorance Armstrong … who left the Cowboys. Dallas additionally misplaced operating again Tony Pollard to the Tennessee Titans, and stories say they don’t plan to spend much at that position.
The rest of the NFC East was making moves and the Cowboys were quiet. That’s not all in; it’s folding before the flop.
There’s a lot of time for the Cowboys to make big moves — free agency doesn’t even officially start until Wednesday afternoon, which sounds weird — but it’s appears that whatever Jones meant by “all in” didn’t essentially ruthless what maximum folk would suppose it approach. It is sensible for the Cowboys to be prudent, with heavy promise extensions approaching Micah Parsons and CeeDee Lamb. However later perhaps the landlord shouldn’t be pronouncing such things as “you are going to see us this coming yr no longer develop it for the date.”
The Cowboys presumably will mostly run it back. That includes coach Mike McCarthy, who saved his job. That’s fine. The Cowboys have been very good the past couple years, and if you continue to be one of the NFL’s best regular season teams then eventually you should break through with a playoff run. But it looks like the Cowboys are going to have to change that narrative without a lot of outside help, unless they have a big plan for the second wave of free agency or some trades.
Whatever Jones meant by “all in” didn’t include leveraging future years on the salary cap and perhaps the draft to make a huge push for a Super Bowl this year. Maybe Dallas will make some moves before it’s all over.
Here are the rest of the winners and losers from a wild start to free agency, a couple days before it technically began:
WINNERS
Las Vegas Raiders‘ defensive order: If the Raiders work out their quarterback status quickly, they’ll have a horrifying defensive order at the alternative aspect of the ball.
Christian Wilkins got here at a heavy worth, getting $110 million over 4 years. However he’s additionally a component defensive take on who would possibly finally end up being the largest prize in distant company. He’ll be upcoming to Maxx Crosby, one of the vital absolute best defensive results in the NFL. If Tyree Wilson, the Deny. 7 pick out in extreme yr’s draft, comes alongside this season the Raiders would possibly have one of the vital absolute best defensive traces within the NFL.
Gardner Minshew II, who agreed to a deal Monday with the Raiders, gives the team options at quarterback. They don’t need to reach on anyone or make a panic move. The Raiders won’t be a challenger in the AFC West until the quarterback situation gets figured out. But they made a nice move to get Wilkins in the hopes that when the QB arrives, the rest of the team will be ready around him.
Bryce Younger: The Carolina Panthers had to get Younger some aid. His building is the most important. So that they adopted an worn New Orleans Saints fashion.
When the Saints had vertically challenged quarterback Drew Brees, they invested in the interior of their offensive line. Brees needed a clean look in front of him. That’s why the Panthers paid big for guards Robert Hunt (five years, $100 million) and Damien Lewis (four years, $53 million).
Carolina has a lot of work to do, but you have to start somewhere. Giving Young some protection in the middle of the line shows they have a plan.
Running backs: Running backs didn’t do so bad in free agency.
Having a bunch of stars helped. And while nobody was getting pass rusher or even offensive guard money, the deals showed that teams do still value high-end running backs. There were agreements by Josh Jacobs and the Green Bay Packers (4 years, $48 million), Saquon Barkley and the Philadelphia Eagles (3 years, $37.75 million), Tony Pollard and the Tennessee Titans (3 years, $24 million), D’Andre Swift and the Chicago Bears (3 years, $24 million) and Austin Ekeler and the Washington Commanders (two years, $11.5 million). Alternative operating backs were given consideration instantly: Devin Singletary going to the Giants, Gus Edwards landed with the Los Angeles Chargers, Antonio Gibson assuredly with the New England Patriots and Zack Moss will move to the Cincinnati Bengals. Aaron Jones used to be trim by way of the Packers however temporarily landed with the Vikings. And we nonetheless have Derrick Henry to move.
There used to be enough of operating again motion on Monday. The location isn’t lifeless, regardless of the rhetoric round it.
LOSERS
Minnesota Vikings: At some time the Vikings needed to advance on from Kirk Cousins. Giving Cousins some other $180 million trade in, which he were given from the Atlanta Falcons, probably wasn’t going to change the team’s Super Bowl trajectory. There’s also a lot of risk involved with Cousins, who is about to turn 36 and coming off an Achilles injury, that wasn’t mentioned often on Monday. We saw what the Vikings’ ceiling was with Cousins, and it was time for something else.
But that something else isn’t ideal.
The Vikings lost the game of quarterback musical chairs. They settled on Sam Darnold for $10 million over one year, which won’t get anyone excited. The draft is coming too, but Minnesota has the 11th pick and could be looking at the fifth best quarterback in the class at that spot. It could work out but there’s no guarantee.
The NFC North is going to be very good this season. The Detroit Lions made smart moves to acquire defensive end Marcus Davenport and cornerback Carlton Davis. The Packers assuredly to offer with operating again Josh Jacobs and protection Xavier McKinney. The Bears retained cornerback Jaylon Johnson and assuredly to a trade in with operating again D’Andre Speedy. And the Vikings are committing to be coming into an uncomfortable transition season.
Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills: The Dolphins and Bills weren’t good enough to make a Super Bowl run last season. It’ll be even harder this season.
Both teams have lost key players without adding much. The salary cap isn’t a myth, as it turns out.
Miami saw defensive tackle Christian Wilkins and guard Robert Hunt agree to nine-figure deals elsewhere. Pass rusher Andrew Van Ginkel additionally left, to the Vikings. In the past they’d trim veterans like linebacker Jerome Baker and cornerback Xavien Howard. Miami had cap problems and nonetheless wishes to determine the Tua Tagovailoa extension status. They’ll have problems changing the ones avid gamers, despite the fact that including linebacker Jordyn Brooks is helping.
The Expenses have been ready to secure left take on Dion Dawkins, defensive lineman DaQuan Jones and edge rusher A.J. Epenesa, however there have been some losses. They trim more than one veterans like heart Mitch Morse, cornerback Tre’Davious White and protection Jordan Poyer. Receiver Gabe Davis assuredly to a trade in with the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Bills can justify moving on from each player because they were aging or inconsistent in Davis’ case, but they still need to be replaced somehow. And they don’t have a lot of resources to get that done.
Those two teams should still be the top two in the AFC East. But winning a division is not the ultimate goal for either.
