Jerry Jones will again work his way through the free hand

America’s team is worth more money than any other team in the NFL. Actually the Dallas Cowboys are the most valuable team in the world, according to Forbes. Whether or not you want to believe they’re still “America’s Team” is irrelevant. The cowboys rake in dollar bills with their fists. So it must be extremely frustrating for Cowboys fans knowing this and being forced to watch the team sit back every offseason and watch other teams sign players left and right.

Regardless of the release, Dallas tops the list in terms of price Warriors of the Golden State in the NBA. Yes, they’re two different sports with different salary cap systems, but the Warriors have dominated the past decade, winning four championships in eight years. They did it by building through design and free agency. Everyone remembers the heat Kevin Durant got when he signed with Golden State in the summer of 2016.

Who is the last major free agent the Cowboys signed?

On the other hand, Dallas has been reluctant to seek big-name free agents for the past decade. Anytime there’s a rumor about a potential free agent, the Cowboys are mentioned, but rarely do they land said player. The Cowboys were perceived as leaders in the clubhouse Acquisition of Odell Beckham Jr., and nothing happened. Now that OBJ can walk and train, the Cowboys didn’t even send anyone there watch him run Last week in Arizona.

Last offseason, two fantastic free-agent linebackers expressed interest in playing for Jones’ Cowboys. By Miller and Bobby Wagner would both have liked to receive an offer from Dallas. While Miller got a huge deal that Jones would never have thought of, not much was done to begin with. Wagner was much more accessible, and Jones passed him on, too.

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins is one player who could be on the move, and for the past week before free agency began, his name has been linked with the Cowboys. Imagine Hopkins and Ceedee Lamb at wideout for Dallas. They would undoubtedly be the best wide receiver tandem in the league. There would be no more excuses for Dak Prescott and this offense. But Jerry won’t do it. He is afraid of freedom of choice.

Better do it well

The failed signing of Brandon Carr in 2012 caused Jones to reconsider his strategy for building a title contender. He does it mainly by design. That’s fine, but you have to try when there’s a big free agent available. Most of these players would like to play for Jones. For some of those players, playing for the Dallas Cowboys still means something. But Jones usually waits until it’s too late and he can pick up name-value guys who are past their prime.

Cowboys Nation is passionate about anything but a free hand. They have been conditioned not to expect much because the owner no longer takes risks. Jerry brags about his business acumen and how he built himself, and then that organization figuratively goes broke when it comes time to sign new players. He even did this with Dak Prescott’s contract situation a few years ago. And they already have restructured his deal.

Jerry, it’s okay to spend money on a free hand. It has to go to someone. Take one, two or three chances and you might end up where you want to be. At least in the Super Bowl or NFC championship game.