FRISCO - To the unitiated? Yes, it's a frightening concept when ESPN reports that the Dallas Cowboys are "$79.3 million over the cap.''
Oh, no! Whatever will they do?
Short answer: They will do all the things - necessary and planned - to be cap-compliant in 2026 ... because there is in reality no such thing as "over the cap.''
There are other numbers that insist Dallas is $35.5 million "over the cap.'' But whatever fat number you pick - and believe - deceives you.
And why?
Teams don’t have to be cap-compliant until the start of the NFL business year in March. So, to repeat: There is ultimately no such thing as “over the cap.’’
Think of it this way: You and your spouse are driving down the highway at 70 MPH. She notes that a few miles down the road, you'll need to exit onto a ramp with a speed limit of 40 MPH.
And she therefore deduces that you are "over the speed limit.''
And she's wrong ... because she apparently doesn't understand that by the time you get to the exit, you'll simply adjust.
I will promise you Dallas will get “under the cap’’ by March, because they simply have to.
And I'll go beyond that to inform you that “America’s Team’’ can do so in a way that creates more than $100 million in cap room..
And Dallas can do it all with 7 Simple Steps.
STEP 1 – A Dak Prescott restructure offers $24 million in savings
The QB is now 32 years old, and his original deal included what we call an “escape hatch” after the 2027 season.
But for the upcoming year? I can see the restructure that pushes money out and shrinks his 2026 hit from $74 mil to around $50 mil.
STEP 2 – A CeeDee Lamb restructure offers $18 million in savings
Lamb is just 26, and an unquestioned All-Pro wide receiver. So a lengthy commitment here is far less controversial.
A restructure next spring can slice his $38 million cap hit down to nearer $20 mil.
STEP 3 – A Tyler Smith restructure offers $17.6 million in savings
In September, Smith, as expected, signed a four-year, $96 million extension ahead of his fifth-year option. By tacking void years onto his contract that stretches well into the future and restructuring his salary into a bonus, Smith’s total weight against the cap can be lightened a lot.
STEP 4 – A Kenny Clark extension offers $16 million in savings.
Are they married to Kenny Clark? They don’t have to be. But I bet they either add voidable years to this deal, or they sign him to a contract extension, both options with the intent of shaving down his $21.5 million cap hit in 2026
STEP 5 – A Quinnen Williams extension offers $13.75 million in savings.
His cap hit can be as little as $8 million if he is given a $30 million bonus with an extra year added onto the deal to stretch his APY.
STEP 6 – A Trevon Diggs cut offers $12 million in savings
Here’s where things get dicey:
The former All-Pro corner is clearly in conflict with the Cowboys organization after a series of questionable on- and off-field situations. This had led me to suggest that a divorce is coming, even though the Joneses and coach Brian Schottenheimer have said some lovely and polite things about Diggs coming back and helping the team after a few more weeks on IR.
The reality?
Dallas will probably cut its losses here.
STEP 7 – A Terence Steele cut offers $8.75 million in savings
Another player who has not played up to his extension price tag, Steele could very easily end up on another team by the start of next season.
IN SUMMARY …
Now, do the math: Those seven moves offer a total of $110.1 million in room.
Combine that with whatever Dallas might carry over from 2025 (the Cowboys presently have $20 million in cap space) and there are no “cap-crunch’’ reasons to preclude Jerry’s team in 2026 from doing … well, anything.
READ MORE: Cowboys Accused Of ‘Choking’ By Insider; Report Card For Vikings Embarrassment
READ MORE: Trevon Diggs ‘Upset’ By Cowboys Decision; The Truth Amid Confusion
READ MORE: Cowboys ‘Winners & Losers’ from Crushing Loss vs. Vikings
ESPN wants you to think they're in the red. The truth? The Cowboys can have $110 million in cap room under the likely $295 million ceiling ... allowing the Joneses to make virtually any move they wish.
And shame on Bristol for trying to clickbait/scare Cowboys Nation into thinking otherwise.