The Dallas Cowboys are “all in” for 2024 according to Jerry Jones.
After an entire offseason of sitting on their hands, the Cowboys finally inked one of their best players, All-Pro WR CeeDee Lamb to a contract extension on Monday making him the second highest-paid non-QB in the NFL just behind Justin Jefferson.
That was a significant move that most believe should have been made a long time ago.
Still, if Mike McCarthy can’t lead this Dallas Cowboys 2024 team to a deep playoff run, the roster could look very different next season and there will likely be a new head coach leading the charge.
McCarthy has led Dallas to three-straight (12-5) regular season finishes in the last four years as head coach, winning the NFC East two out of those three seasons.
But for whatever reason, Dak Prescott — who put together a MVP-caliber regular season in 2023 — seems to choke when games matter the most. Prescott is still viewed as a top-10 QB in the NFL throughout league circles, and his regular season numbers back it up.
So with Lamb now locked in with the Dallas Cowboys for four more years, Jerry Jones and company better find a way to reach a long-term extension with Prescott sooner rather than later. Because if they don’t pay him at the end of 2024 — no matter how the season plays out — somebody will.
And what’s the alternative?
Trey Lance might be a former first round pick, and while he flashed at times in the preseason against backups, he also made massive mistakes and doesn’t look close to being ready to start in the NFL.
It’s hard to see the Cowboys totally bombing this season so bad that they have a high enough draft pick to land Shedeur Sanders, Quinn Ewers or one of the top QBs of the next draft class, so the smart decision would be to lock down Prescott as soon as possible.
But history tells us Jones won’t do that — and just like every other negotiation — something will happen at the last minute. The Cowboys don’t have that luxury this time.
Dallas Cowboys Fans Erupt Over Last-Minute RB Move On Cut Day
The Cowboys offense is lacking big-play talent beyond Prescott and Lamb. Brandin Cooks is a veteran speedster who is a middle-of-the-pack No. 2 WR and Jake Ferguson should take another step forward at TE, but the running back room should concern fans big time.
As it stands, it appears the Dallas Cowboys are truly hoping Zeke Elliott magically turns back the clock and plays like his younger self, despite coming off a mediocre season in 2023 with the Patriots at best. Elliott had just 642 rushing yards and three touchdowns for New England last season. He averaged just 3.2 yards per carry, barely better than the 3.5 yards per carry in 2023 he finished with in Dallas.
They decided to keep Elliott and second-year RB Deuce Vaughn, who is unproven but flashed when given the opportunity. But Vaughn’s inexperience is glaring, he finished 2023 with 23 carries for 40 yards. That’s an average of 1.7 yards per carry.
There’s more optimism about the Dallas Cowboys decision to keep RB Rico Dowdle, who had 386 rushing yards on 96 carries with two touchdowns. That’s a 4.0 yard average per carry, but still, this backfield isn’t going to scare any defensive coordinator.
One of the most controversial moves that has fans erupting was the Cowboys’ decision to cut veteran RB Royce Freeman, who had a strong camp and preseason. The veteran shined when given opportunities last year for the Rams, averaging 4.1 yards per carry and finishing 2023 with two touchdowns.
WHAT!? Noooo certainly that quote about Royce Freeman was meaningful right!? https://t.co/C2t5NsS2Wr
— Liam Murphy (@ChessLiam) August 27, 2024
The Royce Freeman disrespect is crazy I'm upset, smh @dallascowboys
— T Mafianie (@TMafianie) August 27, 2024
Interesting. Good thing we signed Zeke and Royce freeman. https://t.co/7Or7nvzk0n
— jimmy butler (@jimmybutler124) August 26, 2024
On the same day the Dallas Cowboys cut Freeman, they hosted free agent RB Dalvin Cook, who finished last season with 214 rushing yards, averaging 3.2 yards per carry. Fans were far from thrilled about adding Cook to the Cowboys RB room that already has glaring question marks.
Very sad to see a front office like Dallas, and then for fans wanting to sign injury prone or old/washed players. Another example was from yesterday, Cowboys fans alluding to get Dalvin Cook. https://t.co/RaiiHID64i
— Hunter ✭ (@Hunt4Dak) August 27, 2024
Damn. Rather the Cowboys pickup Samaje over Dalvin Cook… https://t.co/zpIridoZmE
— └A (@iAmThatLuis) August 27, 2024
@dallascowboys forget Dalvin Cook, go get Frank Gore Jr. and let him wear #22. He is a beast just waiting to get the job done. He was great at Southern Mississippi University and another guy named Brett Farve went under the radar coming out of Southern Mississippi.
— coolt412 (@coolt412) August 27, 2024
