My Issue Isn't with the Moves, It's the Timing

[Coogiguy03]

I agree, the timing is off by about 18 months. Where was Dallas in 2024 when several top DTs were available in free agency? The Cowboys sat out that off season instead of jumping on a top tier DT. Then in the 2025 draft, there were a bunch of high potential DTs in the draft and the Cowboys took an OG at #12.

Clearly, the Cowboy did not place a priority on DT. Someone changed their minds, but it is years late.

Imagine if Jerry signed a top tier DT in 2024 to play alongside Micah Parsons? That's where we should be now instead of loading up on DTs while out outside guys can set an edge and our LBs can't fill a gap.

And while we celebrate the Cowboys getting 5 sacks against the Cardinals, keep in mind they are the 5th most sacked offense in the league. The pass rush has been spotty at best.

let's get 5 sacks against a "good" team

 

[McKDaddy]

No team in the entire league rebuilds like this. You trade away talent, stockpile picks, draft a ton of blue chippers over 2-3 years, and THEN you make a trade like this to put them over the top. You don’t start with the trade when your roster is this thread bare.

But yeah, I can live with the Micah situation, it just didn’t seem to be part of a coherent strategy.

For me, it comes down to one key decision. I don't believe in our QB no matter what we do so I would have absolutely been looking to take it down to concrete. I would hope that would signal to Dak that waiving his clause was in his best interest. I would focus on building the core & finding a QB just as as you suggest THEN make moves to supplement it. We are in agreement on all that.

But they cling to the "open window" & "hanging around the rim" theories so Jerry isn't going to do that.

 

[erod]

I do not necessarily take issue with the specific moves lately, but my major problem is that the timing of these moves indicates that there is basically no grander strategy being employed.

Why in the world are we lighting draft capital on fire when we have a historically bad defense that will need 5+ new starters to even be competitive next year?

Why was Micah Parsons not traded before the draft or even the previous season when we clearly had no intention of winning the next two years and had likely already decided we were probably not going to resign him?

Why did we not trade for a single impact player from 2021-2023 when this team had a real, concrete chance at winning the super bowl with just another great defensive player to put them over the top, but now we're throwing picks like they expire tomorrow to save a god forsakenly awful team this year?

The decision making is just completely manic, emotionally driven, and schizophrenic. Where is the vision for this team actually going? Absolutely nowhere in my opinion.

They will all be here next year. Your point makes no sense.

 

[Jarntt]

Williams is a long term move for a foundational player. You dont know if you are getting anyone you can build around with those picks. You know you are with Williams.

Quinnen Williams isnt a "Save The Season "(not quoting or paraphrasing you btw), but a move to really start building the defense

 

[Flamma]

The Cowboys choose to never do a total rebuild. Their team building philosophy is unique. It's unique because it doesn't work. They simply build through the draft and are happy to make the playoffs. If playoffs are threatened, then they'll use alternative methods.

 

[Rockport]

We’re just frustrated Rock. It’s been a long time since this team has won, and I struggle to see a path in the next few years.

We’re all frustrated. Watching the gams this season are painful at times. I try not to let it blind me with hate. Not saying you as you’re one of the better fans here. But you know as well as I do that this place is overrun with folks you’d never allow yourself to associate with and they breed hate here. Even Bob has sunk down to some of their levels. Keep the faith. We need something to keep us entertained in these times.

 

[BleedSilverandBlue]

They will all be here next year. Your point makes no sense.

Opportunity cost - would you rather have your first and second to get blue chip players on rookie contracts for 5 years, or Quinnen Williams for 2 years on a huge contract while the team is not tooled to compete.

It actually makes perfect sense.

 

[BleedSilverandBlue]

We’re all frustrated. Watching the gams this season are painful at times. I try not to let it blind me with hate. Not saying you as you’re one of the better fans here. But you know as well as I do that this place is overrun with folks you’d never allow yourself to associate with and they breed hate here. Even Bob has sunk down to some of their levels. Keep the faith. We need something to keep us entertained in these times.

I feel you dude. Hopefully better days for the Cowboys are ahead.

 

[erod]

Opportunity cost - would you rather have your first and second to get blue chip players on rookie contracts for 5 years, or Quinnen Williams for 2 years on a huge contract while the team is not tooled to compete.

It actually makes perfect sense.

The chance of you getting anything remotely close to Quinnen Williams with that second pick is almost zero.

They're working in Dak's window, which is already shut but they refuse to admit it.

 

[Mikexike]

I do not necessarily take issue with the specific moves lately, but my major problem is that the timing of these moves indicates that there is basically no grander strategy being employed.

Why in the world are we lighting draft capital on fire when we have a historically bad defense that will need 5+ new starters to even be competitive next year?

Why was Micah Parsons not traded before the draft or even the previous season when we clearly had no intention of winning the next two years and had likely already decided we were probably not going to resign him?

Why did we not trade for a single impact player from 2021-2023 when this team had a real, concrete chance at winning the super bowl with just another great defensive player to put them over the top, but now we're throwing picks like they expire tomorrow to save a god forsakenly awful team this year?

The decision making is just completely manic, emotionally driven, and schizophrenic. Where is the vision for this team actually going? Absolutely nowhere in my opinion.

Jerry knows he doesn't have much time, This move was just a band aid to make games watchable this year and evaluate the players for the 2026 team. This team needs a lot of new starters but you can't get that all at once, You should be happy they are building this defense from the Inside out. I would of been pissed if they traded a 1 for a DE. Williams is our new building block and I'd bet any franchise would want a player like him to build around, It just never worked out in NY because they could not field a offense just like us not fielding a defense. FA will define the 2026 team and the rookies will be dept. You ain't finding 5 starting rookie defenders.