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Commanders' rival Cowboys no longer 'all in' this offseason

While the Washington Commanders completely remodeled their franchise in 2024, the Dallas Cowboys were surprisingly stagnant.
Jan 5, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA;  Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin (17) celebrates after scoring the game-winning touchdown  during the fourth quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
Jan 5, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin (17) celebrates after scoring the game-winning touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images | Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

The Washington Commanders split the season series against the Dallas Cowboys but it was ultimately the burgundy and gold who walked away from the 2024 season feeling like winners.

Despite Cowboys owner Jerry Jones saying his team was 'all in' during the 2024 offseason, it was the Commanders who made sweeping changes and not only earned a postseason spot but made it all the way to the NFC Championship Game.

Now, with another offseason already begun, the Commanders are looking for solutions to getting past the Philadelphia Eagles while Dallas is taking a new approach. One that will draw fewer expectations, even if the mocking doesn't dissipate as quickly.

Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin.
Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin. | Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

"We're going to be selectively aggressive out here," Stephen Jones, the Cowboys' co-owner and COO told a group of reporters on Monday. "Obviously, our goals historically have been to try to fill as many of your musts and needs before the draft so you can pick [the] best player on your board. We didn't get that totally accomplished last year, but certainly that's always the goal. Every year's different in terms of what those musts and needs are. Then, you also have to marry up what's in free agency versus where the draft is heavy, where we can help ourselves in the draft."

'Secretly Aggressive' isn't as sexy as 'All In', but it also isn't as likely to bring forth expectations that team will try and land the biggest whales in free agency and trade talks.

However, as Dallas tries to stay in the national spotlight, there have already been talks about the team trading for defensive end Myles Garrett, all the while current star linebacker Micah Parsons is closer and closer to demanding a trade out–if you believe growing speculation that the relationship between team and player might be frayed.

The jokes aren't likely going away anytime soon, even as the younger Jones tries to give reporters a similar yet less provocative combination of buzzwords to run with this offseason.


READ MORE: Report says Commanders' NFC East Division rival selling minority stake in franchise

Stick with CommanderGameday and the Locked On Commanders podcast for more FREE coverage of the Washington Commanders throughout the 2024 season.

More Washington Commanders News

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• Could the Commanders be in play to land massive help on the offensive line in free agency?

• Commanders linked to future Hall of Fame linebacker in free agency


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David Harrison
DAVID HARRISON

David Harrison has covered the NFL since 2015 as a digital content creator in both written and audio media. He is the host of Locked On Commanders and a graduate of the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University. His previous career was as a Military Working Dog Handler for the United States Army. Contact David via email at david.w.harrison82@gmail.com or on Twitter @DHarrison82.

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