Local Dallas citizen and analyst, Bob Sturm, isn't too happy with Jerry Jones and the management about the team's acquisitions in free agency.

After all, Jerry Jones promised he was going to go all out to bring in defensive reinforcements. However, nothing screams bursting the budget. Sturm was asked how he read the moves made by the Cowboys in free agency.

Sturm said, "Well, I read it as the very same reason they sat out free agency for 13 years is the same reason they’re very bad at free agency.”

The Cowboys are a franchise that has never relied on free agency and believes more in the NFL Draft. Sturm also went off on Jerry Jones and his style of management,

“You’ve gotta know, you’ve gotta have one point man, not a committee, you gotta have one guy that can pull the trigger, which is, of course, why so many of us want a general manager at some point as opposed to the game of dress-up that we play.”  

Sturm did not hold back with his criticism. Jerry Jones has been the owner and general manager since he bought the Cowboys back in 1989. Out of all the 32 teams in the NFL, Jones is the only owner who also acts as the team's GM. 

As for the offseason and free agents only, Dallas has signed safety Jalen Thompson on a $33 million deal, cornerback Cobie Durant on a $5.5 million deal, safety P.J. Locke, defensive tackle Otito Ogbonnia on a $3 million deal, quarterback Sam Howell, edge rusher Tyrus Wheat, offensive lineman Matt Hennessy, and tight end Princeton Fant. There's also Rashan Gary who got a $32 million contract.

However, these don't sound like statement signings. The Cowboys had the opportunity to bring in Maxx Crosby, arguably one of the best defensive stars in the league, but they passed on owing to the Raiders wanting two first round picks. And that could be part of the Cowboys' free agency problem.

Why are the Cowboys so bad at free agency?

Sturm made an interesting take on Jerry Jones and the front office as to why they never succeed in free agency. He said, “They don’t like losing leverage at the table. And when you participate in free agency, you have no leverage.”

This is well-documented this season alone, let alone in the past. The Cowboys lost out on securing the services of Nakobe Dean, who is a top defender and would have helped this Dallas defense. 

There is also another angle where Dallas offered him the same money, but he still chose to sign with the Raiders. 

Sturm further said, “And the problem is, if you haven’t participated in free agency ever, we know what their first bid looks like when they have all the leverage, because we see it all the time.”

Micah Parsons is another example, who ended up being traded, and the franchise’s star QB, Dak Prescott, played on the tag twice before being paid. 

“In every one of these negotiations, which are painfully slow and frustrating and often end in divorce, what happens is they are comically lowballers. You’re not gonna win in free agency, you’re going to overpay. So the question is, do you wanna participate or do you want to feel good about you never lose leverage?” Sturm said further. 

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Written by

Samvruth Raj

Edited by

Siddharth Shirwadkar