Jerry Jones has a new catchphrase for the Cowboys’ off-season. He is going to “bust the budget” to secure key players.

Speaking to reporters last month, Jones had said, “We want to get out here and do better than we did this year. (There’s) the incentive to, dare I say it, bust the budget to try to get something done now? Yes. Yes.”

Will McClay, Vice President of player personnel for the Cowboys, has shed some light on Jones’ “bust the budget” strategy, as per Todd Archer of ESPN.

“That typically doesn’t change because what we do … you still have to go grade the free agents and know the free agent class. If you’re doing your job, it’s systematic because you do it every year. Even if you don’t have any money or you’re shopping with no budget, you at least have to be ready to window shop,” McClay said.

McClay is one of the key players in Dallas’ front office and has a big say in what the Cowboys do during the drafts and free agency every year. Initially starting as a pro scout in 2002, he has climbed the ladder and was made the Vice President of Player Personnel in 2017.

Looks like the Cowboys will be following the same strategy as always regarding free agents. But will window shopping help them this time?

Will Jerry Jones finally “bust the budget” this season?

Jerry Jones in 2024 said the Cowboys would be going “all in” in free agency, but failed to bring out his checkbook when it mattered.

In 2025, the New England Patriots had dropped $192.9 million in guaranteed money into free agency, topping the charts in spending.

Super Bowl LX winners, the Seattle Seahawks, spent $101.5 million, ranking fifth. The Cowboys, however, were near the bottom of the table, spending $23.4 million in guaranteed money in free agency.

This year, however, Jones has promised to go above and beyond in securing key players.

The Cowboys are off to a good start, locking in Javonte Williams to a three-year, $24 million contract.

Stephen Jones has also revealed that they might want to place the franchise tag on George Pickens and are negotiating a deal with Brandon Aubrey.

The Cowboys also have two first-round draft picks to capitalize on. Bolstering the defense would be the priority for the Cowboys’ front office.

Do you think Jerry Jones will act on his words this time? Let us know in the comments.

You can read more at the Dallas Cowboys Community!

Written by

Shyam Hari

Edited by

Kalp Thaker