Jerry Jones, owner of the Dallas Cowboys, has used "bust the budget" as his slogan for this offseason. But has he truly lived up to it?

At the NFL Owners meeting in Arizona, Jones addressed the trade deals, roster gaps, and the team's financial management. 

“We have been aggressive, relatively speaking we have stepped up financial requirements for what we have done, but we may have exceeded/ busted whatever you want to call it. But we've got some more and so we are not through,” Jones said.

This offseason, the team has signed players on contracts ranging from $3 million to $11 million per year. According to Over the Cap, Dallas ranks 10th in the league with over $76.69 million in free agency spending. 

For the world's richest sports franchise, valued at $13 billion, those numbers fall well short of expectations. And especially when America's Team hasn't even been in the playoffs for two years now.

“I would bet that we will spend more money in free agency than we have,” Jones said at the NFL Scouting Combine. “I want you to know that the only way to push forward is for me to go borrow some of my future. Expect me to go borrow some of my future, OK?”

To be fair, this year's numbers do exceed what Dallas has spent in previous offseasons. Over the past five years, the Cowboys averaged just $54.75 million in free agency spending, dead last in the league.

The Dallas Cowboys signed Jalen Thompson, Cobie Durant, Sam Howell, P.J. Locke, Matt Hennessy and Otito Ogbonnia through free agency, and acquired Rashan Gary via trade with the Green Bay Packers.

But while Jones has added some key players from the free agency market, a big question mark remains on their roster.

George Pickens Likely to Play on Franchise Tag in 2026

George Pickens carries a $27.29 million franchise tag, and the Cowboys have until July 15 to finalize a long-term deal. 

"The franchise tag has an automatic timeframe on it, and all of us will - and it's my plan and our thought - that we'll all be working within the timeframe of the conditions of the franchise tag," Jones told Jon Machota of The Athletic.

"It should play itself out is the best way for me to say it. Make no mistake about it, we have long-term plans in mind for Pickens," Jones added.

With Pickens contract still up for negotiations, the wide receiver's participation in offseason workouts seems unlikely. But Jones hasn't given that a thought.

"I don't have a thought about expecting him [Pickens] or not," Jones said. "I know, he's working out with, throwing with our quarterback. So all of that's going good. I don't have anything out of the ordinary to comment about regarding him, franchise tag, all of that is normal to me."

Indeed, that is normal in Jones' offseason playbook. But these moves do affect the upcoming season, and if it goes downhill? Dallas will mark its 31st straight year without a Super Bowl.

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Written by

Archana Ramakrishnan

Edited by

Shubhi Rathore