Following a lackluster 2024 campaign, the Dallas Cowboys have an important offseason full of roster decisions that will shape the franchise’s future. How will Jerry Jones and Co. right the ship after a disappointing season?
NFL Analyst Shares 5-Step Plan To Fix The Dallas Cowboys
As the time to make some important roster and draft decisions approaches, ESPN NFL analyst Bill Barnwell laid out his five-step plan to fix “America’s Team.”
1. Re-Sign Micah Parsons
Since being selected as the No. 12 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Parsons has been a staple of Dallas’ defense. In his four seasons with the team, the Penn State alum has accounted for 52.5 sacks and nine forced fumbles in his 63 games played and is a four-time Pro Bowler and two-time AP first-team All-Pro selection.
“He’s one of the best defensive players in football, and we’re actually going to reduce his cap hit from $24 million on his fifth-year option when we do re-sign Micah Parsons. … Obviously, it’s a big contract, but you want to keep your stars around.”
2. Restructure Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb’s Contracts
Retaining top talent in Dallas has been expensive, but to compete in the NFL, especially in the NFC East — which saw two of its members duke it out for a spot in Super Bowl 59 — the Cowboys will need to free up room from their two biggest contracts to bring in top talent in free agency.
“This is going to create $60 million in cap space for the Cowboys. Those guys are sticking around, they’re your core. … That’s a lot of money to work with, and we’re going to need it for Steps 3, 4, and 5 of this plan.”
Restructuring Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb will allow the front office flexibility to make moves that will benefit both sides of the ball and keep their offensive stars happy for the foreseeable future.
3. Add Deebo Samuel Sr. Next To Lamb
It’s been apparent for a couple of seasons that No. 88 needs some help alongside him, and Barnwell believes that Deebo Samuel Sr. would make a great fit in the Cowboys offense.
“Adding [Deebo Samuel Sr.] into the mix gives a big body and physicality the Cowboys have not had in their offense in several years. He’s tormented the Cowboys himself. Deebo Samuel would be a great addition as the No. 2, not the No. 1 [wide receiver] but the No. 2, next to CeeDee Lamb.”
With Michael Gallup out after the 2023 season, Brandin Cooks aging, and recent draft picks not panning out as well as the front office would have liked, adding a certified threat in Samuel would juice up the offense and give Prescott an extra safety net in the passing game.
4. Upgrade the Offensive Line
Following Zack Martin’s decision to retire from the NFL, the Cowboys, known for having solid offensive line play, now have the task of replacing a position the team has not had to worry about for a decade.
Speculation abounds that the team is looking to draft a running back, which means that the offensive line should be the focus in free agency. Rico Dowdle is coming off a 2024 season that saw him reach over 1,000 yards on the ground in 15 starts, even with an offensive line that had to shuffle around and adjust each week.
Exactly where the Cowboys decide to bolster the offensive line remains to be seen, but adding depth with guys like Trey Smith of the Kansas City Chiefs should improve the rushing attack as much, if not more, than bringing in a big-name back in free agency.
5. Add Depth to the Defensive Line
“Last year, the Cowboys were not just the worst red-zone defense in football, they were the fourth-worst red-zone defense of the last decade. That’s what happens when you cannot stop the run in short yardage.”
The Cowboys gave up 468 points in 2024 once opposing teams entered the red zone, the worst in the NFL. The defense will need to add some talent in free agency to address the main issue: stopping the run.
“These are not going to be big names, you’re looking at guys like Poona Ford … the Morgan Fox-es of the world. Build that depth, build that defensive line, and get the Cowboys strong on the line of scrimmage to help them get back to what they were.”