The Dallas Cowboys have been moving and shaking over the past 48 hours with contract extensions and the flicking of switches on Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb's contracts.
That has freed up over $70 million in cap space with a Micah Parsons extension set to add to that. ... all on a path toward about $100 million available toward a "shopping spree'' of sorts when the NFL business year and free agency open on March 12.
For most, this new way of doing things has many excited for free agency, but if you were thinking that the Cowboys would look to go after the heavy hitters on the market, Dallas COO Stephen Jones might have just poured cold water on that thought.
“We're looking for what fits, what works and what fits for us," Jones told us on Wednesday from inside The Star. "Big names in my mind aren't necessarily always the answer, sometimes the big names don't pan out as well.''
Sure, but ... they can help. Right?
Conceded Jones: "You look at a guy like Saquon Barkley, I mean obviously that made a huge difference, was a big name, and made a huge difference."
Correct. And as our Mike Fisher notes, "Sometimes, if you want to drive a Lamborghini, you have to pay Lamborghini prices.''
Nevertheless, Stephen's comments go in line with our thoughts that the Cowboys won't be players with "Tier 1" free agents like Tee Higgins, Chris Godwin, Milton Williams or Davante Adams ... but that they can be players when it comes to Tier 2 options.
We're hearing a lot of buzz about Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton, though he could be seen as a Tier 1 option and might command a sizable salary. But what about Marquise Brown, Justin Reid, B.J. Hill, Robert Spillane or Charles Omenihu ... or dozens of other candidates?
They could be less expensive options, and all would help Dallas in their respective positions.
In the end, while the Cowboys have created sizable cap space as part of the plan, it doesn't guarantee they will open the checkbook on Day 1 of free agency ... or at all.
But when Stephen says it will be a "selectively aggressive" approach?
Cowboys Nation can hopefully start kicking around the identities of guys who are one level down from being "big names.''
