Cowboys make savvy money move days before 2024 NFL free agency

The Dallas Cowboys are now officially under the cap ahead of the 2024 NFL free agency thanks to All-Pro guard Zack Martin.

On Friday, ESPN's Todd Archer reported the Cowboys restructured his deal, freeing up $13 million. In other words, they took salary from his deal and converted it into a signing bonus, which can be prorated over the length of his deal. Keep in mind, restructures/conversions such as this aren't pay cuts.

However, that wasn't the only change to Martin's deal, as Archer reports the Cowboys tweaked the lineman's final years on his deal to "help lessen the impact against the 2025 salary cap if he this is final year." 

Had the Cowboys not made the adjustment to the deal, Martin's dead money cap hit would've been $25 million in 2025 as his contract expires after the upcoming season. "With the tweak, the Cowboys can spread a potential hit against the cap over '25 and ’26," adds Archer.

The move is savvy as it costs the Cowboys nothing but benefits them in the short and long term.

The Cowboys could still make some more moves such as this ahead of free agency, which officially kicks off next Wednesday. DeMarcus Lawrence, Trevon Diggs, and Brandin Cooks are among the candidates to free up the most money in salary cap space. 

Despite claims of going "all-in," expect the Cowboys to be quiet in free agency, though. Linebacker is among their top need but chances are they won't be breaking the bank for any of the top free agents.