The Dallas Cowboys have come under some scrutiny from fans and analysts alike for their slow start to free agency. The Cowboys were the only franchise not to sign a player on Day 1 of the legal tampering period. One of ESPN’s NFL analysts defended Dallas’ tempered approach to free agency on Thursday, however.
Analyst Defends Cowboys’ Approach to Free Agency
The NFL’s most popular franchise is under constant scrutiny from its fan base, but particularly so following a disappointing end to the 2023 season with a largely non-competitive playoff loss to the lower-seeded Green Bay Packers.
Fans have been clamoring for change ever since to avoid a repeat in the upcoming season, and Jerry Jones only fueled the fervor by telling fans the franchise was going “all-in” this year.
The slow-burning start to free agency has certainly drawn ire from many among the Cowboys faithful. However, ESPN analyst Domonique Foxworth defended Dallas’ approach during a segment on Thursday’s edition of Get Up.
“I think the way this team is behaving is responsible and effective,” Foxworth said.
ESPN reporter and Get Up host Kimberly A. Martin made the argument that Jones’ now infamous use of the “all-in” terminology earlier this offseason was irresponsible given its inaccuracy, though she agrees with the Cowboys’ approach.
Foxworth pushed back on anyone believing Jones’ comments in the first place.
“You know where you and the fans made your first mistake? You believed anything that came out of Jerry Jones’ mouth,” Foxworth said. “I don’t care what he’s got to say. They’ve been all-in every year since he’s owned the team, if you ask him.”
Fellow ESPN analyst Damien Woody also chimed in on Dallas’ slow-burning start to free agency during the segment, stating that it’s a product of the franchise’s strong drafting and needing to pay its own players.
With Dak Prescott having garnered a big contract and new deals perhaps to come soon for Micah Parsons and CeeDee Lamb, prioritizing them leaves the Cowboys with little room for splashy free agent additions.
“They’ve never been the team to just splash in free agency,” Woody said. “They’ve done such a great job of drafting and developing their talent that they have to pay their own guys. That’s what really good organizations do. They have to pay their guys.
“There is plenty of time to add, make trades, all these types of things. Everyone just needs to slow down a little bit.”
Dallas has made one addition thus far in free agency after agreeing to a one-year deal with veteran linebacker Eric Kendricks to begin shoring up one of the team’s biggest needs. Nonetheless, it’s been relatively quiet otherwise with several players departing in free agency.
KEEP READING: 2024 NFL Top 100 Free Agent Rankings
Although that lack of action has drawn umbrage from some fans, it’s clear Foxworth, Woody, and Martin are among those on board with the Cowboys’ approach.
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