The first week of free agency is over and the Dallas Cowboys have done very little in bringing in new players to add to their roster.
This isn’t anything new for them as it’s been their modus operandi for years now, but for some reason, every offseason people tend to completely forget that and become very upset with the lack of free agent activity.
Adding fuel to the fire, Jerry Jones regretfully uttered the “all-in” comment and now fans have reached a new level of dissatisfaction. Has the front office lost its way or is the team going about things the right way? This is an argument for the latter, with four reasons why the Cowboys are wise in their standoffish free agency approach.
Free agency is a fool’s game
One of the most interesting things about the free agency craze is the lack of awareness that investing in free agency is a house game.
Just like people in a casino, there can be winners, but the overwhelming majority of deals will consist of players who don’t perform to the level of their contract. Let’s think about this for a moment.
First of all, a player leaves in free agency because his previous team, who knows this player all too well, didn’t think enough of him to keep him.
That should be red flag number one. Second, the player then enters the open market where a bidding war will drive up their price.
Finally, the players landing the bigger deals are typically coming off a good season, where teams are paying for the high end of their performance, leaving little room to outperform their contract and a lot of room to underperform it.
Going after the big name players is a risky endeavor and sure, some fans want to experience the feeling of hope that those big names bring, but many Cowboys fans are just asking for a mid-tier signing. Nothing that will break the bank, but would it kill them to show a little assertiveness in free agency?
Yes. It would figuratively kill them to do that. Why, you ask? Well, that segues nicely into our next point.
The money is better suited to go elsewhere
We understand that the Cowboys are a draft-and-develop organization with a heavy emphasis on retaining their own talent. They draft their stars and they pay them big money when it’s time for an extension.
We should all take some solace in knowing that they have All-Pro talent at all of the money five positions, quarterback, wide receiver, left tackle, edge rusher, and cornerback (note: Tyler Smith earned his All-Pro at left guard, but can play left tackle). Having great talent at the premier positions, that’s the way to go, and paying for these stars costs money.
