When the Dallas Cowboys ended the 2024 season with a disheartening 7-10 record and missed the playoffs, there was no shortage of finger-pointing in the Lone Star State. Fans, coaches, and players alike wondered how a team with such sky-high expectations could crash and burn in such spectacular fashion. 

Was it the injuries? The defense? Dak Prescott’s dip in production? The truth is, there's plenty of blame to go around. Now that the dust has settled, the Cowboys head into an offseason that feels about as welcoming as a West Texas dust storm. 

There’s a good chance this offseason is going to be a rough ride.

The Elephant in the Room: Salary Cap Chaos

Let’s address the biggest buzzkill of them all: the Cowboys are projected to be $2.8 million over the salary cap this offseason. If you were hoping Jerry Jones might simply open his checkbook and make it rain for top-tier free agents, you might be in for a rude awakening. The front office has very little room to work with, meaning they’ll need to pull off some financial gymnastics just to break even.

They can certainly make some space by restructuring some of their top contracts, but even then, there's only so much that will open up. The prime candidates for reworking their contract are Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb. Prescott’s deal, in particular, stands out like a sore thumb. Restructuring Dak’s contract could free up around $36 million, which would go a long way toward patching some of the roster holes. 

Meanwhile, reworking Lamb’s deal could net an additional $20 million. But these moves come with consequences down the road, thanks to something called “void years.” It’s a strategy teams use to spread out cap hits over future seasons, effectively kicking the financial can down the road. The Cowboys have danced this tango before, and while it can help in the short term, it often creates monster cap hits a year or two later.

That’s one reason critics are banging the drum about the Cowboys’ front office. They have a history of slow-playing contract extensions and then paying big money at the eleventh hour, often winding up with inflated cap numbers. Dak, DeMarcus Lawrence, and Ezekiel Elliott all became cautionary tales of waiting too long. Now, with Prescott and Lamb, the question is whether the Cowboys will repeat those same mistakes, or if they’ll find a way to stay ahead of the curve. At the moment, I wouldn’t hold my breath.

Losing a Legend: The Impact of Zack Martin’s Retirement

As if the salary-cap straitjacket wasn’t bad enough, the Cowboys are also bracing for life without Zack Martin, who announced his retirement. If you’re a football junkie, you know Martin’s value goes beyond the typical metrics for offensive linemen. 

He’s a nine-time All-Pro selection, a stabilizing force on the line, and a future Hall of Famer. Perhaps just as crucial, he was a leader in the locker room — a guy who set the tone both on and off the field.

The retirement of a player of Martin’s caliber leaves a gaping hole. It’s like suddenly losing the center beam in a house you spent years building. You can replace it, but there’s no guarantee the new one will be as sturdy. Martin’s departure also creates a $17.06 million dead-money hit on the 2026 cap if the Cowboys designate his retirement post-June 1. While pushing that cost into the future might soften the blow right now, it’s just another instance of the team not planning ahead. 

Locker room leadership might be the most underrated aspect of Martin’s retirement. When you look at a unit that struggles, you often find a lack of veteran direction. Martin’s voice resonated with rookies, veterans, and everyone in between. 

So, if Martin was that integral, how does Dallas cope without him? That’s the million-dollar question they’ll need to figure out, and soon.

The Free Agency Dilemma: Who Stays, Who Goes?

When you’re over the cap, you typically can’t keep everyone you want. The Cowboys are about to learn this lesson the hard way. Their list of impending free agents includes some key contributors and some role players who could become bigger factors down the line. 

The biggest name might be defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa, who has grown into a vital part of the interior defensive line. With the Cowboys wanting to beef up their run defense and only having one defensive tackle under contract for 2025, re-signing Odighizuwa sounds like a no-brainer — until you consider the money.

Then there’s running back Rico Dowdle, who’s become a fan favorite. Daryl “Moose” Johnston called him a potential “home-run hitter,” something the Cowboys have lacked in recent years. And CBS has Dowdle ranked as the top running back in this year's free-agency class. The team could opt to re-sign Dowdle, but given their cap constraints, they may explore an alternative in free agency or the draft, searching for that dynamic back who can change a game in a single carry.

At cornerback, Jourdan Lewis is a piece you’d love to keep if you can swing it financially. He provides depth and reliability, especially with the injuries that have plagued the secondary. Yet with the budget so tight, even relatively modest deals can become stumbling blocks.

Meanwhile, Demarcus Lawrence’s future is also in the spotlight. He’s been a cornerstone of the defense for years, a force off the edge who can collapse a pocket with the best of them. But he’s turning 32, and that age combined with the Cowboys’ cap situation raises doubts about whether they’ll be able to sign him to a new deal that makes sense for both sides.

Finally, there’s linebacker Eric Kendricks, who led the team in tackles in 2024. Kendricks brought consistency to a unit that desperately needed it. If the Cowboys can’t keep him, they lose not only a prolific tackler but also a field general. 

Draft or Bust?

This brings us to the 2025 NFL Draft, where the Cowboys could try to patch up multiple holes. The problem is that Dallas might be forced to rely more heavily on rookie talent than a contender would prefer. Hitting on draft picks is crucial, but it’s also unpredictable.

One position that might top the Cowboys’ draft wish list is defensive tackle. Names like Mason Graham have been floated as possible picks who could beef up the run defense and help fill the void if Osa Odighizuwa doesn’t return. 

At running back, Ashton Jeanty or Treyveon Henderson could provide that “home-run” element the offense is lacking, though dropping a high pick on a running back has become a bit controversial in today’s pass-happy league. Still, it’s hard to ignore what a game-changer at that position can do when your offense is teetering on mediocrity — especially after seeing what Saquon Barkley just did with their division rivals.

Some folks are clamoring for Dallas to trade down to accumulate more picks, effectively letting them throw more darts at the board. It’s not a bad strategy if you’re in the middle of a mini-rebuild, but it also comes with risks — passing on a blue-chip prospect at a key position might haunt the team if that player turns into a star somewhere else.

Quarterback Under Pressure: Dak Prescott’s Make-or-Break Year

We can’t talk about the Cowboys without addressing Dak Prescott. After all, he’s the guy with the $89.89 million cap number in 2025. That’s enough money to make any fan’s head spin. 

The plain truth is Prescott didn’t look like himself in 2024. He finished with a pedestrian 1,978 yards and 11 touchdowns, alongside a career-low QBR of 45.4. Injuries played a part, but fans have grown impatient waiting for him to deliver them to the promised land.

The stakes couldn’t be higher for Dak. He’s still beloved by many in Dallas, but his critics point to his contract and wonder if he can live up to it. If the Cowboys endure another subpar season and Dak continues to underperform, the calls for change will become deafening. 

What complicates matters is the financial puzzle surrounding Dak’s deal. If they restructure him now, they can free up money this offseason. But they’ll also be tying themselves to an older quarterback who may or may not return to his 2023 form.

The Parsons Predicament: To Extend or Not to Extend?

On the defensive side, Micah Parsons might be the best thing Dallas has going for it. He’s an absolute stud, a game-changer who can line up all over the field. He’s also eligible for an extension that could make him the highest-paid defender in the league, surpassing Nick Bosa’s $34 million annual average. If you’re the Cowboys, you want to lock up Parsons before he even thinks about testing the market.

Parsons has said he wants to stay in Dallas and is open to taking less money if it means the team can surround him with talent. That’s music to Cowboys fans’ ears, but don’t expect him to settle for peanuts, either. 

Considering the team’s track record with star players and last-minute negotiations, there’s a sense of deja vu. Will the Cowboys learn from their earlier contract missteps and get a deal done with Parsons well in advance? Or will they wait until the 11th hour again, risking the same kind of ballooning cap hits that got them in this situation? 

Coaching Changes and a Shift in Philosophy

As if the roster concerns weren’t enough, there’s a new man at the helm: Brian Schottenheimer. He’s taking over as head coach, and he’s made it clear that his philosophy emphasizes physicality, especially in the running game. For a team that’s seen pass-heavy strategies fizzle out at crucial moments, this might be a welcome change — or a recipe for frustration if the personnel can’t adapt.

Schottenheimer has also brought in new assistants who seem to share his vision. But transitioning to a more physical identity requires the right players — and the Cowboys simply don't have them right now. With a shaky defense and potential departures at key positions, can Schottenheimer instill his brand of football, or will he inherit a roster that just can’t fit the mold?

Stormy Skies Over Dallas

No matter how you slice it, the Cowboys are heading into one of their toughest offseasons in recent memory. They’re over the salary cap, on the verge of losing impactful free agents, and are coming off a losing season. Meanwhile, they’re banking on a quarterback who hasn’t looked the same lately, and they’ve got a defensive superstar waiting for a mega-extension. That’s a lot of spinning plates for any organization, let alone one that’s never been shy about the spotlight.

I’d love to sit here and say they’ll navigate these obstacles with ease, but the truth is, there are too many question marks. If they don’t restructure contracts properly, the free agents will walk. If they don’t address the offensive line, Dak’s going to struggle again — and if Dak can’t regain his old form, who steps up to fill the void? As for Micah Parsons, if the Cowboys fumble that extension, they risk alienating the best defender they’ve had in a long time.

For fans holding out hope that this is just a minor bump in the road, I admire your optimism. But realistically, it might be time to brace for some pain. Unless the front office pulls a rabbit out of its hat and we see some unexpected breakthroughs in the draft, this 2025 season could be another uphill battle. The best advice I can give Cowboys faithful is to keep your expectations in check. Enjoy the small victories: a solid draft pick, a savvy contract restructure, or a surprise free-agent signing that doesn’t break the bank. Because if you’re pinning your hopes on big splash moves and instant fixes, you'll likely end up disappointed.