As many know, I am a Giants fan, but I am also a (best-that-I-can-be) objective observer of the sport, and I while I understand a lot of Cowboys fans' frustration with this offseason, I think that many are being entirely unreasonable and unfair to team management, and aren't taking the long view. In my opinion, I think that it is obvious that the Dallas front office has a clear plan, and I think it is a very good one.
The bottom line is that even though statistically the Cowboys defense looked pretty good this year, it was nowhere near as capable as the offensive side of the ball. I think that management has soberly concluded that while they will certainly try to win this year (and while somewhat depleted they still have the talent to do so) the defense needs to be rebuilt in order to be championship caliber -- and the Super Bowl is their ultimate goal.
They realize that they have three years remaining while BOTH Dak and Zeke are on their rookie deals. They know that they have to pay to keep the OL together. They know that Romo's money will be off the books soon no matter how that soap opera finally plays out. And they want to get away from having to play the salary cap credit card game, where restructuring is a way of life, and offseason flexibility is a dream that can only be realized by hamstringing tomorrow to some -- and often substantial -- degree.
So it makes complete sense to take a very possible slight step backwards in 2017 to set up very legitimate SB shots in 2018 and 2019. Take the year to capitalize from a ridiculously-deep DB draft and after a season of learning on the job have a talented, cost-controlled secondary that is better than last year's more expensive group. Add another pass rusher in April as well, and also use 2017 to develop the raw D-Line talent you have on the roster. And set yourself up cap-wise to ensure that you can stay strong into the future, even after you have to shell out the big bucks for Prescott and Elliott.
Could they have gone through the ridiculous cap machinations that some on this board have suggested in order to overpay FAs and gun for it this year? Sure. But so could EVERY other team in the league. And there is a reason that hardly anyone ever does it -- because it is just poor management if you want to establish a base for sustained success over a number of years.
So there is a method to the Cowboys' offseason madness. And I, for one, think it will serve Cowboy fans well, no matter how frustrated some may be now.
