Stephen Jones fires back at Dallas Cowboys critics regarding offseason moves

Critics of the Dallas Cowboys have been loud this offseason after the league’s most valuable team lost two of their most valuable players in Amari Cooper and La’el Collins. Executive vice president Stephen Jones fired back at those critics this week, claiming Super Bowls aren’t won in the offseason.

“I don’t think you ever win the Super Bowl in the offseason,” Jones said, via the Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s Clarence Hill. “It’s a full body of work, what you put together over time. The biggest thing is it’s been a long time since we have won a championship. You got to get over the hump. We didn’t last year with the same group of players.”

With the 2022 NFL Draft coming up next week, the Cowboys have a big opportunity to replace their second-leading receiver with a fresh young star. As it stands now before trades, Dallas has one pick in each of the first four rounds, four in the fifth and one in the sixth. Many predict Jerry Jones will go for a wideout with the No. 24 pick in the first-round. Last week, the elder Jones discussed the possibility of trading up if necessary to get the guy they want.

Coming off of a 12-5 finish in 2021, Dallas once again has hopes of competing for a Super Bowl next season. They have not made it past the divisional round of the postseason since 1995, the last year they won the championship.

Jones sends message to Cowboys fans

In a recent interview with 105.3 The FAN in Dallas, Stephen Jones offered an update on where the team stands.

“We’re not done yet in free agency,” Jones said. “We feel like we can go into the draft pure and take the best players on our board.”

The Cowboys have already added a few new faces for 2022, including the third overall pick from 2015 in defensive end Dante Fowler. A Florida alumnus, Fowler has struggled with injuries and off-field issues throughout his career. His best season as a pro came in 2019 with the Los Angeles Rams when he finished with 58 tackles (16 for loss), 11.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. By joining the Cowboys, Fowler will reunite with defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, whom he previously played under both in college and with the Atlanta Falcons.

Besides Fowler, the Dallas Cowboys also signed former Steelers receiver James Washington and Chicago Bears running back Ryan Nall through free agency. A former Biletnikoff Award winner at Oklahoma State, Washington is set to enter his fifth NFL season in 2022. He mostly played a backup role while in Pittsburgh, and last season finished with 285 yards receiving and two touchdowns on 24 catches.

Dallas also re-signed some of its key contributors from 2021. Wide receiver Michael Gallup was the biggest beneficiary from this, inking a new five-year contract worth up to $62.5 million with incentives. The Cowboys also used the franchise tag on tight end Dalton Schultz and brought back key defensive players in safeties Jayron Kearse and Malik Hooker.

On3’s Chandler Vessels contributed to this report.