The Cowboys will have a new coach and tough decisions ahead to be competitive next year
Mathematically, it’s not impossible, but since Dak Prescott’s injury – which didn’t help his poor season much – the Cowboys are likely to miss the playoffs for only the second time in the last five years and the fifth time in the last 10. Their drought without reaching the Super Bowl or even the NFC Championship Game will continue. Next season will mark the 30th anniversary of their negative streak as “America’s Team”. But that’s not a problem for owner Jerry Jones, as the Cowboys remain the world’s most valuable sports franchise for the ninth consecutive year, worth an estimated $10.1 billion-$1.3 billion more than their closest competitor-proving that you can make a lot of money without being relevant in terms of results. Sad but true.
Troy Aikman’s Advice to Jerry Jones on Fixing the Cowboys
Mike McCarthy is unlikely to remain as head coach next year, primarily because his five-year contract with the team is up. During his tenure, McCarthy has posted three consecutive 12-5 seasons, but like his five predecessors, he has failed to make it out of the divisional round. The Cowboys should already be focusing on next season – something they should have started doing at least a month ago when their chances became nil. Former player Troy Aikman, the last quarterback to win a Super Bowl with the franchise, sent a strong message to Jerry Jones about how to handle the roster to remain competitive next season. Aikman shared his thoughts on a radio show, stating:
You’ve already paid Dak, CeeDee’s, been paid. You only have so much. Mike is coming up for a contract as well. Those become hard decisions. You can’t just have three great players and 50 less-than-average players. I’m not saying that the others are less than average, but the decisions affect them and the strength overall of the roster.
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Aikman is right. Personally, I thought it was a mistake to pay Prescott so much because he did absolutely nothing in the playoffs. The Cowboys have many holes in their roster, especially on defense where they lack a linebacker to lead the team in critical moments. I’m not counting Micah Parsons, because while he’s exceptional and one of the best in the league, he’s primarily an edge rusher. Speaking of Parsons, he is likely to seek a contract extension before next season. Although he mentioned that he’s not looking for “big paychecks” but rather a competitive roster, Jones will likely pay him what he’s worth. However, Parsons seems to prefer fame and being remembered for his play and winning a Super Bowl to receiving a massive paycheck.
Ashton Jeanty: Cowboys’ Potential Draft Solution
How could you not want to win a Super Bowl? It would be one of the most glorious moments for the franchise after so many years without a championship. However, Parsons’ likely $40 million payday will come sooner or later. Offensively, with Prescott returning, the team’s weakest link appears to be the running back position. It appears that Heisman runner-upAshton Jeanty could be their pick in the draft. Personally, I think Jeanty could have a rookie season as impressive as Ezekiel Elliott’s in 2016.
The Cowboys final three games are against teams that, unlike them, are fighting for the best possible playoff seed. This Sunday night, they host the NFC South-leading Tampa Bay Buccaneers, whose offense has scored 25 or more points in its last four games and needs another win to stay ahead of Atlanta in the division. Their final two games are against division rivals who, given the chance to humiliate the Cowboys and score as many points as possible, won’t hesitate to do so. First, they head to Philadelphia, a team that is still in contention for the NFC’s top seed. They close out the season at home against the Commanders, who are chasing a Wild Card spot with rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels leading the way.