Stephen Jones explains what 'all-in' means to Cowboys amid free agency

The Dallas Cowboys have only added one outside free agent to the roster so far this offseason and fans have noticed. The frustration is palpable on social media, especially after Jerry Jones used the phrase “all in” to describe the team’s approach to the 2024 season. On Wednesday, Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones explained what “all in” really means to the team amid free agency.

“We don’t define ‘all in’ by what you spend in free agency … It’s keeping your core and some of the great players in this league – like Dak Prescott, like Micah Parsons, like CeeDee Lamb, like (Trevon) Diggs,” Jones said. “That’s what we define as all in, is trying to keep those guys.”

Despite working towards extensions for multiple stars, including CeeDee Lamb, none of those deals have come to fruition just yet. Meanwhile, four former Cowboys are now with one of the team’s NFC East rivals, the Washington Commanders, and even team legend Tyron Smith is gone. Smith signed a heavily incentive-based deal with the New York Jets.

“Everybody certainly has that right,” Jones said of fans’ complaints. “I know where the frustration is, it’s the fact that we haven’t had success in the playoffs to their satisfaction. We know that’s going to be there, but we’re going to stick with what we believe will ultimately get us a championship here for our fans.”

Jones: ‘Player acquisition is 365 days a year’

It’s not too late for the Cowboys to make some splash moves, but from the looks of it, the Jones’ aren’t hell-bent on winning the month of March. Fans just have to hope they’ll win in the months of January and February this time around.

“When you want to keep your players that you’ve developed and worked so hard to get… then you’re not going to be able to go out and chase those [high-dollar free agent] guys… The way I look at things, I’ve always said it, player acquisition is 365 days a year. It’s not just the first or second or third day of free agency.”

Since the start of the league new year, Dallas has re-signed long snapper Trent Sieg, and cornerbacks Jourdan Lewis and CJ Goodwin. They all inked new one-year deals.

The team could still sign back several of their unsigned free agents in the coming weeks. Stephon Gilmore, Jayron Kearse, Johnathan Hankins, Chuma Edoga, Sean McKeon and Rico Dowdle are up for grabs and can sign wherever they like before the 2024 season begins.