The Dallas Cowboys are treading uncertain waters as they head into the 2024 NFL season. Jerry Jones, the long-time owner and face of the franchise, has succinctly characterized their current state as being "up in the air." While the team has consistently made it to the postseason with at least 12 wins in three consecutive years, breaking into the conference championship round remains an elusive goal.
The financial burden on the Cowboys is substantial, largely due to Dak Prescott's towering $55.1 million cap hit in 2024, the second highest in the league. Adding to the tension is wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, who carries a $17.991 million fifth-year option and has opted out of both the spring offseason program and training camp. Stephen Jones, the team's executive vice president, has revealed that Lamb aims to become the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL, a title currently held by Justin Jefferson with a $35 million annual salary.
Mike McCarthy and his coaching staff also find themselves on precarious footing, entering the final year of their contracts. To compound the uncertainty, the Dallas front office has not yet taken actionable steps to address the expiring contracts of key players, all of which are set to expire in 2025. Reflecting on the organization’s approach, Jerry Jones has remarked, "We’re option-quarterbacking, and we’re going out toward the sideline, and we haven’t handed it off or pitched it."
The Cowboys' internal dynamics further complicate the situation. While Zach Martin held out briefly in camp the previous year, he ultimately attended once his contract issues were resolved. Ezekiel Elliott's journey also underscores the franchise's complex relationship with its stars. He was re-signed to a six-year, $90 million extension, only to be released in the 2023 offseason—a move that highlights the high stakes for Prescott and Lamb as they both enter the final year of their deals.
As usual, the Jones family is at the helm of day-to-day football operations, an anomaly in the NFL. This continuity in management has led to Dallas having one of the highest rates of season-ticket renewals Stephen Jones has ever seen. A record of consecutive playoff appearances spanning 13 years without advancing to the conference championship speaks to both consistency and underachievement. The responsibility for these mixed results falls squarely on the leadership, as Jerry Jones has remarked, "I think the Cowboys have had two GMs ... Tex Schramm and me."
The Cowboys find themselves grappling with an intricate web of financial commitments and contractual complexities. This intricate balancing act requires a combination of risk-taking and pragmatism, as Jerry Jones himself acknowledges, "I know that I have had a lot of mistakes in these years...but the same imagination, the same risk-taking, the same taking risks but being pragmatic, that's how we got here. I don't know for sure if it's going to work. But I am giving it everything I've got."
Despite the challenging financial landscape and the uncertainties concerning player contracts, the Cowboys' loyal fanbase remains unyielding. The dedication shown through the record season-ticket renewals provides a ray of optimism amidst the uncertainties that loom large. Jerry Jones, forever the figurehead of the franchise, continues to assert his commitment to steering the ship, "I listen to the people around me. Otherwise I wouldn’t be sitting here."
As the Cowboys navigate this intricate phase, their journey will be a closely watched narrative. High hopes, significant financial stakes, and the looming expiration of key contracts set the stage for what could be a pivotal season in Dallas. The ability of the franchise to manage these multifaceted challenges could very well determine whether they finally break through their long-standing ceiling or continue to remain "up in the air."