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todd archer
multiple authors
INDIANAPOLIS–It’s been 30 years now dallas cowboys‘ In the last Super Bowl appearance, owner and general manager Jerry Jones said he had disappointed fans with his team’s championship drought.
“I really can’t accept the idea of just winning one Super Bowl and then what?” Jones said at the NFL Scouting Combine on Friday night. “I have more time on my clock than I have in my mind. And so I don’t look at it that way. I look at the opportunity to put a team together and basically knock over the edge and get one more or get another chance.
“I think that’s the way it goes. … Now make no mistake about it, if you told me I could, because I’ve done a lot of hitchhiking in my life. … I’d start here with you right now and hitchhike back to Dallas to win the Super Bowl.”
After finishing 7-9-1 in 2025, Jones promised changes. One change will be the team’s approach to free agency.
The Cowboys have not relied heavily on free agency over the years, opting to fill their spots on the roster with affordable players.
“I’ll bet you we’ll spend more money than we did in free agency,” Jones said.
To do this, the Cowboys first need to create salary cap room. Well it’s over The $301.2 million limit was set on FridayThey will restructure quarterbacks’ contracts dak prescottwide receiver cd lamb and left the guard tyler smithThat would create room for $66 million.
Jones says Cowboys will rework defensive tackles’ contracts kenny clarke, quinnan williams And Osa OdighizuvaThose are set to count about $63 million against the cap. With Clark and Williams, the Cowboys could consider adding voidable years to their contracts and then restructure that way.
“I want you to know that this is the only way to put more pressure [out] Should I borrow part of my future, OK?” Jones said. “Hopefully I’ll borrow part of my future.”
For Jones, this goes beyond his personal Super Bowl desires.
“I look at where we are with Dak and I look at where he is in his career. And I look at some of the advantages we have up front and what we think we can do there. And what we can do [George] pickens And Lamb and what can we do with our running back that we just signed [Javonte Williams],” Jones said. ”And so I want to do all the things we can to stop someone and basically win a few thirds more than last year. And so I think that’s going to be the area where you’re going to see me breaking the budget. Where you’ll see me do that, that’s what we’re doing defensively.
“And I would expect any Cowboys fan or Cowboys critic to say, ‘Oh, it’s not that hard to do, Jerry.’ But I guess what I’m doing is saying, yes, I intend to do it if the opportunity comes.”
The Cowboys defense finished at or near the bottom of the league in yards allowed and points in 2025. Christian Parker has been hired as the new defensive coordinator, and Jones acknowledged the need for more than just one or two new players, while also saying that the players who were on defense in 2025 will be better in 2026 “because the situation has changed.”
With two selections in the first round, the Cowboys have an opportunity to add more talent to their defense. Jones wouldn’t rule out the possibility of a trade, such as one involving Williams New York Jets and from clark green Bay Packers For Micah Parsons.
“I don’t know that I would expect it, but we have enough capabilities to be good at it,” Jones said. “And if it helps our team and helps us meet the timeline we’re talking about then I won’t hesitate to be good at it.”
Jones, now 83, was introspective at times during the hour-long meeting with reporters. His determination to win the championship is strong.
“This is more of a reward than anything I have, except for the family and your love for the family,” Jones said. “I guess what I would say is make no mistake about it, there is no higher priority for me than winning a Super Bowl.”
