The Cowboys have several key interests this offseason, but free agency looms as an important one.
The Dallas Cowboys and free agency are often the source of extreme anger and frustration from the fan base.
With the Cowboys having money to spend on "decent" players, more often than not, the franchise penny-pinches and ends up with bargain players when it comes to "outside'' free agents.
That leads to frustration with Dallas having the tools needed to make big splashes, but guarding the credit card with its life.
But this offseason, we have heard that a change in approach could be made (cue the collective eyeroll from Cowboys Nation).
Owner Jerry Jones has stated the Cowboys are incentivized to "bust the budget" this offseason, while at the same season-ending press conference, COO Stephen Jones stated the Cowboys have to be "efficient" in how they approach free agency.
So exactly which way the franchise goes is unknown. Although most fans have a good idea. ... as with justifiable skepticism, they simply don't trust the Joneses here.
In discussing how the team would navigate free agency, Stephen stated that keeping players also plays a role in how they will approach it.
“Obviously, there's guys that we want to keep from last year, whether it's a George Pickens, whether it's a Javonte, those are all guys that play into the free agency picture,” Jones said.
It's no secret that Pickens and Williams are the two big dominoes to fall for the Cowboys as it pertains to their free agency plans. You can throw in Jadeveon Clowney in there, too.
But for most, Dallas' plans have to center around Christian Parker's defense, which, under Matt Eberflus, was one of the NFL's worst last year.
With the ability to have over $100 million in cap space and several good free agent additions out there, such as linebacker Alex Singleton, Nakobe Dean, and others, the Cowboys have several ways to improve the defense.
Not to mention having two first-round draft picks.
“We've got work to do on the defensive side of the ball," Stephen added. "So, between free agency, the draft, there's a lot of resources there that we can use to make our defense better.”
The biggest watch will be how aggressive the Cowboys will be in free agency.
Jerry has stated there's an incentive to bust the budget, but how far will Dallas go in an attempt to avoid a third straight season without playoff football?
Well, we don't have to wait too much longer to find out.