To catch the Philadelphia Eagles and return to the playoffs, the Dallas Cowboys made roster moves. Dallas hasn’t made the playoffs since a Wild Card round exit ended their 2023 season. With that in mind, owner/general manager Jerry Jones committed millions to roster construction. An ESPN writer checked in to criticize one of the Cowboys’ biggest moves.
Cowboys’ Decision to Re-Sign OL Terence Steele Criticized by Bill Barnwell
Last season, Steele landed at No. 76 in the PFSN NFL Player OL Impact Rankings, which account for production and effectiveness. Dallas brought Steele back into the fold, signing him to a three-year, $33 million deal. ESPN writer Bill Barnwell panned the move, stating:
“While Steele was once a glowing example of Dallas’ ability to develop offensive linemen, the former undrafted free agent hasn’t been the same since suffering a multi-ligament knee injury at the end of the 2022 season.” Barnwell wrote. “Steele is tough and hasn’t missed a game over the ensuing three seasons, but he has struggled badly with speedier, twitchier edge rushers like Bryce Huff and Jonathan Greenard over the past two years.”
In Week 14 of that season, Steele tore the MCL and ACL, and Barnwell believes that injury continues to haunt the Texas Tech product.
“Steele is not a bad player, but this probably wasn’t the right fit for a team that needs to squeeze every bit of surplus value possible given how much it is paying its top five players,” he added.
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According to Spotrac, Dallas has committed close to $113 million this season on five players (Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, Tyler Smith, Quinnen Williams, and DaRon Bland). Meanwhile, another integral part of the roster, George Pickens, will demand a payday. In order to keep him, the Cowboys will not only need to give the receiver a raise but also add years to his deal.
Last year, the Cowboys ended the season on a down note, losing six of their last ten games. Worse, the defense allowed 28 points seven times. However, they traded for pass rusher Rashan Gary and drafted safety Caleb Downs to compete with the Eagles. However, improvements to the New York Giants and Washington Commanders could make the NFC East even tougher.
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New York hired John Harbaugh as their head coach. Washington scrapped Kliff Kingsbury’s scheme in favor of David Blough, who takes the reins of the offense. On top of that, the team signed pass rusher Odafe Oweh and linebacker Leo Chenal while drafting Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles.
If he plays well, Steele’s contract could be considered a bargain. If he doesn’t, will the Cowboys regret his deal as money that could have gone elsewhere?
