As his 30-year quest for another Super Bowl continues, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones says he plans to “spend more money in free agency than us” in order to win another title.
Speaking to journalists at NFL scouts combine this week in IndianapolisJones, 83, said he feels like he’s let Cowboys fans down by not building a roster worthy of another championship.
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How desperate is Jones to get back to the top? He said he would “hitchhike back to Dallas to win a Super Bowl.”
The Cowboys missed the playoffs for the second straight season in 2025 with a 7-9-1 record. The franchise has won five playoff games since winning Super Bowl XXX, which is also the same season they last advanced out of the second round.
After the NFL announced this week that the The salary cap for 2026 will be $301.2 millionwhich left the Cowboys $56.1 million over the cap, by OverTheCap.com. According to ESPN’s Todd ArcherThe contracts of quarterback Dak Prescott, receiver CeeDee Lamb and guard Tyler Smith will be restructured to free up $66 million in cap space.
This is the second year in a row that the Prescott deal will be reworked.
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Kenny Clark, Quinnen Williams and Osa Odighizuwa will also have their contracts adjusted, Jones said, as the three defensive tackles combine for $63 million against the salary cap.
Pro Bowl wide receiver George Pickens received a non-exclusive franchise tag fridaymeaning he can negotiate a deal elsewhere, but it gives the Cowboys control of the negotiations given the price tag required for a potential team.
“I look at where we are with Dak and where he is in his career. And I look at some of the upside that we have on our front and what we think we can do there. And what we can do with (George) Pickens and Lamb and what we can do with our running back that we just signed (Javonte Williams),” Jones said. “And so all those things, I want to do everything we can to stop somebody and win a few more third downs than last year. And so I think that would be the area where you would see me break the budget. Where you would see me do is what we do defensively.
“And I would expect anyone who’s a Cowboys fan or a Cowboys critic to say, ‘Duh, that’s not hard to see, Jerry, to do.’ But I guess what I’m doing is saying yes, I intend to do it if I get the chance.”
Defensive help will be at the top of Jones’ free agency wish list. Last season, the The Cowboys were last in the NFL in defensive success on third down (47.3%).
There is a new defensive coordinator in town at Christian Parkerwhich Jones said will be a plus for the returning defensive players “because the situation has changed.”
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The Cowboys will have money to spend in free agency as Jones desires, and they will also have two first-round picks in April’s NFL Draft to help them continue moving toward the owner’s sole goal.
“It’s the price of everything I have except family and your love for family,” Jones said. “I guess what I would say is make no mistake, I don’t have a higher priority than winning a Super Bowl.”
