NFL analyst blames Jerry Jones for "completely mishandling" Dallas Cowboys salary cap after $386,000,000 in contracts
NFL Analyst Mike Greenberg is in no mood to mince his words when it comes to calling out Dallas Cowboys' financial strategy. Criticizing the team's 81-year-old owner Jerry Jones, Greenberg is accusing the octogenarian of "completely mishandling" the salary cap.
With over $386 million blocked in contracts for Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, and probably, Micah Parsons, Greenberg feels the Dallas Nation has "painted themselves into a terrible position."
Therefore, the NFL analyst has now suggested the idea of trading Parsons, who is one of the NFL’s top ERs and a staple in the Cowboys' defense. Understanding how that makes his trade unquestionable, Greenberg feels that staggering contracts can force the team to make unfavorable choices.
FYI, Micah Parsons is still on a rookie contract ($17 million). He has a modest cap charge of $5.4 million for 2024. However, he will enter the free agency in 2026, which will lead to an extension that could handicap the financial flexibility of the Cowboys.
“Jerry Jones, with all due respect, has completely mishandled his team's finances. He's [Jerry Jones] a brilliant financial genius when it comes to anything that doesn't have a salary cap, but, when it comes to this, he's gotten this completely wrong,” Greenberg said on ESPN's morning show, "Get Up."
That said, the Cowboys are in a total bind with Dak Prescott's $240 million deal for four years and CeeDee Lamb’s $136 million contract.
At this point, if they want to rebuild the weaker spots on the roster, they will struggle.
Dallas Cowboys' cap numbers: 2024-2027
As of 2024, the Dallas Cowboys have a cap space of $20.8 million under their $259.9 million limit.
However, the following year, the cap space is projected to grow to $24 million –something which will let Jerry Jones deal with player contracts and roster adjustments more freely.
In 2026, the cap space is expected to reach $96.6 million, which will allow the team to rebuild the roster.
By 2027, it is forecasted that the Dallas Cowboys will have $156 million in cap room and the fiscal liability is expected to drop to $157.9 million under a projected $314 million cap.
Therefore, in the next three years, the Dallas Cowboys can become a major contender in the league with proper financial planning with the extra funds to fulfill their Super Bowl aspirations.