Cowboys fans are once again dealing with a miserable offseason under Jerry Jones’ leadership. As frustrating as it is to see the Dallas Cowboys let talent to leave without suitable replacements, this is not the first time this has happened. Over the 35 years Jones has commanded this squad, there have been numerous head-scratching moves.
Focusing on all of them would be an impossible undertaking, so we’ll only concentrate on the last ten years. Let’s look at the top six blunders Jones and the Cowboys executive office have made since 2014.
6. Ezekiel Elliott’s Contract Extension
After three outstanding seasons with the Cowboys, Dallas exercised Ezekiel Elliott’s fifth-year option. However, the former fourth-round pick sat out of training camp, triggering contract extension talks. This culminated in a hefty six-year extension for $90 million, with $50 million guaranteed, that was intended to keep Zeke under contract until the 2026 season.
This was Jerry Jones zagging when the rest of the NFL was zigging. In an era when every team was paying their running backs less, the Cowboys made theirs the highest-paid running back in the league, while also providing him the most guaranteed money of any rusher in history.
As good as Elliott was, awarding such a rich, long-term contract to any running back carries tremendous risk. And they came back to bite the Cowboys. Given Elliott’s hard running style, it was clearly tough for him to maintain his production into his late twenties. Dallas released him after he finished worst in the NFL in yards per rush in 2022 (3.8).
Elliott’s struggles persisted after signing with the Patriots last summer, and he is now trying to return to Dallas to resurrect his career.
5. Signing Dontari Poe in Free Agency.
Every Cowboys fan remembers the overwhelming excitement surrounding the signing of Dontari Poe in the 2020 offseason.
After missing the playoffs in 2019, the Cowboys needed to improve their defensive line. They signed Gerald McCoy and Dontari Poe throughout the offseason. Despite being set to start together at defensive tackle, neither man fared well. McCoy was lost for the season with a quadriceps injury, and Poe only played seven games.
Poe was one of the worst free-agent signings in recent memory, agreeing to a two-year, $8.5 million contract after being dismissed by the Carolina Panthers. He started seven games at nose tackle, recording seven tackles and 0 sacks before being fired midseason.
The goal of bringing in the former Pro Bowler was to improve the run defense. Instead, Dallas had one of the worst defenses in franchise history, ending as the league’s 28th-best defense and frequently being hammered by the run.
It’s not surprising that Poe never played another snap in the NFL following that season. Although it may not appear to be a significant move, it may have prompted Jerry Jones to return to his frugal ways.
4. Drafting Taco Charlton in the first round
If Dontari Poe was one of the worst free-agent signings during Jerry Jones’ reign, Taco Charlton is likely the worst draft pick.
In the 2017 NFL Draft, the Cowboys were determined to select a defensive end to play opposite DeMarcus Lawrence. It was almost certain that they would spend their 28th overall pick on an edge rusher, and they chose Michigan’s Taco Charlton.
The reason for this pick was given as Charlton being a better fit as a typical DE in their 4-3 scheme. It was suspected that Rod Marinelli, the team’s defensive coordinator at the time, had some role in this decision. When the player chose two picks after entering the NFL, it became clear how serious the mistake was.
T.J. Watt, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 30th overall pick, not only played the same position, but the Cowboys apparently thought him more gifted prior to the draft as well. However, he was not as big as Charlton, and his stats did not impress Marinelli or Jerry Jones.
So, the rest is history. Charlton appeared in 27 games but started only seven for the Cowboys over two seasons, registering four sacks. He went on to play for four other teams over the next four years, but eventually dropped out of the NFL.
Watt, on the other hand, established himself as probably the best defender in the NFL, garnering Defensive Player of the Year honors, setting single-season sack records, and becoming a frequent All-Pro candidate.
The only positive takeaway from this was that it prompted Jerry Jones and the Cowboys to start prioritizing skill above fitness. Choosing the best player available above working on your scheme is always a solid option, and it has worked well for Dallas since then.
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