Stephen Jones: Cowboys' inactivity in free agency doesn’t mean team isn’t still all-in

Three days into the start of the new league year, Dallas Cowboys fans likely feel lied to after team owner Jerry Jones implied at the Senior Bowl in January that the team would be major players in free agency.

But to date the Cowboys' only free-agent moves have consisted of signing linebacker Eric Kendricks to a one-year deal and bringing back long snapper Trent Sieg plus cornerbacks Jourdan Lewis and C.J. Goodwin all on one-year contracts.

Dallas’ dormant approach to the start of free agency has prompted a visceral reaction from fans on social media who have called out the front office for sitting idly by as most of the top free agents flew off the board and not making good on its promise to be all-in.

“We are going to stick with what we believe will ultimately get us a championship for our fans,” Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said, via The Athletic. “We don't define all-in by what you spend in free agency. It's keeping the core [together].” 

Three key pieces from the Cowboys' 2023 roster — running back Tony Pollard (1,005 yards, six touchdowns), center Tyler Biadasz (1,123 offensive snaps, three sacks allowed) and defensive end Dorance Armstrong (7.5 sacks) — have all signed elsewhere.