Now that the Dallas Cowboys’ season is over, the team will turn its attention to improving in the offseason.
That means making difficult decisions on some members of the coaching staff and some players, and this year, the Cowboys will have 14 players free to join any team they wish through unrestricted free agency.
That list includes many notable names like offensive tackle Tyron Smith, defensive backs Stephon Gilmore, Jayron Kearse, and Jourdan Lewis, defensive linemen Dorance Armstrong and Johnathan Hankins, running back Tony Pollard, and offensive lineman Tyler Biadasz, among others.
Eleven of the 14 played significant roles during their tenures in Dallas and could command big contracts elsewhere.
According to Spotrac, a website that tracks player contracts and team salary cap situations, the Cowboys are projected to be $11 million over the salary cap in 2024, meaning changes will have to come, and some players may be out the door.
Dallas also signed eight players to futures contracts — which basically serve as practice squad contracts during the offseason — and is expected to add at least one more on Wednesday.
Last offseason, the Cowboys opted to part ways with long-time running back Ezekiel Elliott, resulting in a dead cap hit of about $6 million for the 2024 season, and turned to Tony Pollard on the $10.09 million franchise tag.
After a bit of a slow start, Pollard ran for over 1,000 yards for the second straight season, although his touchdowns and yards per carry decreased. Dallas will have to decide whether he or any of its other pending free agents are worth using its tag this year. Each team only gets one franchise tag, but they do not have to use it.
This year’s deadline to make that decision is March 5, and free agency officially begins on March 13 — although teams can contact and negotiate with players and representatives 48 hours before the official start.
Aside from the players, the Cowboys must evaluate their coaching staff after yet another early playoff loss. Many have speculated whether owner Jerry Jones will fire head coach Mike McCarthy, who has just one playoff win in three seasons with the team, after Sunday’s debacle against Green Bay.
Additionally, defensive coordinator Dan Quinn may be on the move as a viable candidate for head coaching jobs across the league. There are currently seven teams with vacancies, and Quinn reportedly has interviews scheduled with five of them this week.
There will be changes abound for the Cowboys after the ultimate results of this season, the extent of which remains to be seen. Jones is expected to meet with McCarthy this week, and the dominoes should fall pretty quickly once that meeting happens.