Jerry Jones seems to be operating with purpose this offseason. Locking up Javonte Williams after a career year was the first signal. Now, with Brandon Aubrey and George Pickens still awaiting clarity, Jones’ blueprint is becoming impossible to miss.

Jones has signaled a willingness to “bust the budget”, which would be a noticeable shift from Dallas’ traditionally conservative approach. But as Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap put it, the word conservative is an understatement when it comes to free-agent spending.

While the Cowboys have seen plenty of regular-season success over the last six seasons, Fitzgerald argues that bargain hunting won’t cut it anymore.

“(The Cowboys’) use of free agency is pretty absurd. They rank 25th in the NFL with 16 signings but have under less than $55 million in contracts. That is about $20 million less than the next closest team. They spend just $3.4 million per player, which is absurd. That is less than the Texans, who basically filled an entire year’s roster with free agent signings.” 

It’s time for the Dallas Cowboys to actually go all-in

Fitzgerald said he was prompted to dig into the numbers after hearing Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta admit that Baltimore doesn’t invest as heavily in free agency as many other teams. As it turns out, the Cowboys are operating in similar territory.

Armed with two first-round picks, Jones has the perfect leverage to create chaos in free agency if he chooses. You only “bust the budget” for players who truly move the needle. But as Fitzgerald’s numbers show, Jones has leaned on the bargain-bin philosophy for several seasons now, and it hasn’t pushed his team over the hump.

Other teams near the bottom of average per year (APY) spending since 2020 include the Eagles, Buccaneers, Ravens, and Packers. All four have been consistent playoff contenders in recent years, but each has also “busted the budget” when the moment called for it.

The Cowboys, on the other hand, have largely tried to win through the draft while pinching pennies in free agency. Fitzgerald’s data suggests that the approach has been rigid.

There are plenty of ways to build a winner in the NFL, but one of the most proven formulas is drafting well and selectively spending on impact players in free agency. The Eagles are a prime example. They hit on rookie contributors like Cooper DeJean, then pushed their chips in with bold moves for A.J. Brown and Saquon Barkley.

Jones said two years ago that he was planning to go “all-in.” Trading for George Pickens and Quinnen Williams are the only moves that have backed an all-in approach. If there was ever a time for the 83-year-old to follow through on his promise, it has to be this offseason.