What does a rebuild look like?

[Johannes44]

Not possible. Please see the following:

Short answer: they basically can't — not until 2028 at the earliest, and even then it's ugly. Here's the math, per OverTheCap's current breakdown of his 4-year, $240M deal:

The trap: Dallas already restructured him twice, pushing bonus money into void years (2029–2030). And his 2027 salary ($45M) already became fully guaranteed back in March 2026. His 2027 cap hit if they keep him is $76.0M.

Cut him next offseason (pre-June 1): ~$131.5M dead cap
That's $86.5M in accelerated prorated bonus (2027–2030, including the void years) plus the $45M guaranteed 2027 salary. It would cost nearly double his $76M cap hit to get rid of him. Nobody does this.

Trade him next offseason: ~$86.5M dead cap
Dallas eats all the remaining prorated bonus; the new team takes on the $45M + $55M base salaries. Still worse than keeping him — and he has a full no-trade clause, so he controls whether this even happens.

Post-June 1 cut: $76M in 2027 + $55.5M in 2028
Spreads the pain but saves nothing in 2027 versus just keeping him.

The real window is 2028 — and even that's ~$110M dead vs. an $86M cap hit to keep him, because his 2028 $55M salary converts from injury-guaranteed to fully guaranteed in March 2027.

Bottom line: the restructures turned Dak's deal into a cage. He's a Cowboy through at least 2027 no matter how he plays — which, given the current 90.1 rating at $60M APY, is exactly the problem.

The Jones family have wrecked this team in the short and long term.

Basically this team has an anchor around it's neck that is slowing dragging itself down.

 

[My3Sons]

Basically this team has an anchor around it's neck that is slowing dragging itself down.

At some point we will have to eat a huge number that will force the Cowboys to lose other good players for lack of cap space. This board thinks the Jonese are bad, but does everyone realize how bad this thing is screwed up??

Calling it a hot mess would be very generous.

 

[CWR]

Any NFL rebuild starts at QB.

You have to go out and get the next franchise guy.

Im not saying thats all you do, but any window of opportunity revolves around your qb.

 

[Rockport]

Would Cuban be any better?

I don’t know and not binded to Cuban. It’s time for a hands off owner who’s not in everyone’s face everyday.

 

[Johannes44]

At some point we will have to eat a huge number that will force the Cowboys to lose other good players for lack of cap space. This board thinks the Jonese are bad, but does everyone realize how bad this thing is screwed up??

Calling it a hot mess would be very generous.

What are the chances any decent HC wants to be here for this hell?

 

[Captain-Crash]

I don't think I can homer this team up more than I do right now.

Let me try this: "If you don't like Jerry, then find another team!"

 

[calicowboy54]

Approach dak and tell him to waive his no trade clause, trade him and take the cap hits..Thats the first and only step before we can rebuild.

He's from NO he's Favorite OC is there get their current QB and a 1st back

 

[CowboyFanInLexKy]

Would Cuban be any better?

Yes just for the simple reason that Cuban will hire a GM (hopefully one that knows how to operate a football team) and let the GM do their job. And let the HC do his job as well without butting in. That in itself will make a workd of difference

 

[morat1959]

If Wince got two first I know we can

I hope you are right but I don’t see it. I don’t see one 1st. Dink is never going to a SB no matter how much talent you put around him and which team he goes to. He may go somewhere as a stop gap until a team can find a starter.

 

[plymkr]

Approach dak and tell him to waive his no trade clause, trade him and take the cap hits..Thats the first and only step before we can rebuild.

I’m hoping more fans tell Dak he’s embarrassing in the tunnel and Dak gets his feelings hurt, then pouts, and then agrees to a trade.

 

[Acceptablename]

I hope you are right but I don’t see it. I don’t see one 1st. Dink is never going to a SB no matter how much talent you put around him and which team he goes to. He may go somewhere as a stop gap until a team can find a starter.

I used to think Dak could do it. Not now he's unreliable

 

[plymkr]

I hope you are right but I don’t see it. I don’t see one 1st. Dink is never going to a SB no matter how much talent you put around him and which team he goes to. He may go somewhere as a stop gap until a team can find a starter.

Definitely not 2 first rounders but 1 is realistic. With name recognition and his stats it could happen. I think Kellen Moore would take him.

 

[Johannes44]

Any NFL rebuild starts at QB.

You have to go out and get the next franchise guy.

Im not saying thats all you do, but any window of opportunity revolves around your qb.

That isn't happening anytime soon and the sad part is that drafting a young guy to learn from Dak is a non starter.

 

[goshann]

lol again there will never be a rebuild and there shouldn't be. teams reload every year.

 

[Pessimist_cowboy]

Has to start with a new QB and head coach.

 

[LouBrown]

Not possible. Please see the following:

The cap hits don't matter if you are rebuilding.

If anything, you are better eating all of the dead money in one year when you're going to be bad anyway. It's what Miami is doing right now.

 

[LouBrown]

What are the chances any decent HC wants to be here for this hell?

Not necessarily directed at you but...

I love how people always complain that it's a country club with no accountability while saying that nobody would want to coach here lol. Just wild hypocrisy.

 

[SteveTheCowboy]

Ever do a kitchen or home remodel? Gets pretty messy.

But I think with THIS...only a burn it to the ground will work. Can't leave one scrap left over.

 

[SteveTheCowboy]

Not necessarily directed at you but...

I love how people always complain that it's a country club with no accountability while saying that nobody would want to coach here lol. Just wild hypocrisy.

That isn't what "they" say.

"They" say no coach worth his salt would want to. Not with meddlin' Jerry around.

yer battin a HUGE 0-fer today, kid.

 

[Captain-Crash]

it looks like something other competent teams do; for us, it's to extend our losers and pick up some guys past their prime or hurt guys. Cowboys on three...*three*