Best, worst offseason moves by 2024 Dallas Cowboys

The defending NFC East champions didn’t do much in the offseason, but some moves were better than others. Here’s the best and worst of what they’ve done in 2024.

Best | Signing Eric Kendricks

After the retirement of Leighton Vander Esch, the Cowboys desperately needed to add a linebacker for 2024. Kendricks has 1,036 tackles, 18.5 sacks and nine interceptions in nine NFL seasons, but more importantly, he’s familiar with Mike Zimmer, the team’s new defensive coordinator.

Zimmer spent eight years as head coach of the Vikings from 2014-21 while Kendricks spent eight seasons as Minnesota’s middle linebacker from 2015-22. After initially agreeing to terms with San Francisco, Kendricks reconsidered and signed a one-year, $3M deal to join the Cowboys.

"I think I would've taken more of a reserve role [in San Francisco], whereas I feel I have a lot left to give and I wanted to be here and be middle linebacker," Kendricks said, via The Athletic . "I wanted to share my experience with the team, share my leadership abilities and command that huddle."

The Cowboys also added Notre Dame linebacker Marist Liufau in the third round of the 2024 NFL draft. Considered a reach by some analysts, having someone like Kendricks on hand can only help the rookie’s development.

Worst | Jerry Jones’ “all-in” comment

While the NFL season wasn’t quite over, it was for Dallas when owner Jerry Jones dropped a phrase that would follow the team all offseason. After vowing Dallas would be “all-in” for 2024, the cash-strapped Cowboys signed seven low-cost free agents, including five of their own.

Meanwhile, quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb remain unsigned beyond 2024, leaving Dallas fans to wonder what the “all-in” Cowboys are actually up to.

Best | Picking up Micah Parsons’ option

This offseason, Dallas agreed to pick up Parsons’ fifth-year option for 2025. Otherwise, it’s hard to imagine the team’s talented linebacker would have shown up to camp in 2024. Prior to the extension, Parson skipped the team’s voluntary workouts.

He’d still like a new deal but with a fifth year in his pocket, the two-time All-Pro linebacker seems content to wait his turn.

One day. Time will tell. I can’t really put a timetable on it.” Parsons told The Athletic’s Jon Machota . “ All I gotta do is keep getting sacks.”

No Cowboys player had more sacks than Parsons over the past three seasons. Getting him under wraps through 2025 was an absolute must for 2024.

Worst | Bringing back Zeke

Unable or unwilling to match the Titans’ three-year, $21M offer to keep leading rusher Tony Pollard on the team, Dallas took a pass on running backs in the draft before bringing back former Cowboy Ezekiel Elliott.

Elliott spent last year with the Patriots, posting career lows in yards (642) yards per carry (3.5) and touchdowns (three). The Cowboys scored the most points per game last year (29.9), but their run game ranked 14th with 112.9 yards per game. Counting on a 29-year-old running back to carry the load is foolish at best, especially one coming off the worst season of his career.