Grading Dallas Cowboys Best and Worst (Dak Prescott?) NFL Free Agency Moves

They haven't made many moves as a franchise this offseason, but the Dallas Cowboys have done enough to judge the best and worst moves of the last month.

For a team that has gone three straight regular seasons with 12 wins, the Dallas Cowboys have left plenty of their fanbase frustrated throughout the current offseason.

The Cowboys haven't made many additions to the roster, seemingly working on long-term extensions with their current stalwart players, while also being perceived as a unit that is already good enough to reach their Super Bowl goals. By most accounts, organizations across the NFL haaven;t had the level of consistency that Dallas has had over the last three years.

The problem with that thought, though? Dallas has won just one playoff game during this stretch, and two since quarterback Dak Prescott came to the team in 2016. While they have made some moves and long-term decisions that will change the group as a whole, the Cowboys have been among the most quiet teams during the offseason as a group originally expected to go "all-in" with their current roster.

Jan 7, 2024; Landover, Maryland, USA; Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones walks off the field after

Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

As fans continue to show their frustration, let's break down the biggest moves, or lack thereof, for the Cowboys so far this offseason.

Good Move: Re-sign Rico Dowdle

It took the Cowboys awhile, but the team has finally figured out the best way to handle the running back position in free agency:

Don't pay top dollar for one when you have an elite offensive line.

Sure, Dallas' overall line has taken some hits (we'll get to those later), but they have All-Pro caliber players in Zack Martin and Tyler Smith. They only need some consistent runners to produce on the ground. That's what makes the team bringing back their former undrafted free agent in Rico Dowdle so smart. Dowdle doesn't have a ton of NFL touches, but he's the kind of power back that could cause problems for the NFC East as a whole.

Bad Move: Letting Tyler Biadasz Walk to Commanders

Most analysts knew that when Dan Quinn decided to take the head coaching job with the Washington Commanders, many of the top defensive players of the Cowboys may leave the organization to join their former defensive coordinator.

That didn't mean the Cowboys should have let their center leave for Washington, though.

Biadasz is a quality starting center in the NFL, and replacing him won't be easy - especially after the first wave of free agency knocked away many quality starters already. Sure, a deep offensive line class could solve many of their issues, but Biadasz wasn't the only starter to leave the organization this offseason.

He's the one that the Cowboys should'v

Good Move: Letting Tyron Smith Walk

Many fans complained when Tyron Smith essentially left Dallas for a short-term deal with the New York Jets. We're here to tell you that Dallas was relatively smart in starting fresh at left tackle.

The old adage of building consistent NFL teams is to let go of older players a year before they hit their wall. When he is healthy, Smith is still among the best left tackles in the league, but his inability to do such a thing is why the Cowboys may be better off.

Tyler Smith also produced well at left tackle as well - a sign that the Cowboys already could have plans to address their offensive line in major ways during April's draft.

Bad Move: Have Not Restructured Dak Prescott Contract

The good news about the Cowboys offseason plan is that they understand the need to address and sign receiver CeeDee Lamb, pass rusher Micah Parsons, and Prescott to long-term deals.

The issue? They've sat on their hands with Prescott so much that they have lost almost all their leverage in those discussions. Since the organization has already used the franchise tag on their quarterback twice, Prescott could hit free agency if a long-term deal this offseason isn't agreed to. Then, the notion that the Cowboys have been contenders over the years would have to simply shift aside - they won't be able to find a quarterback who can compete at the high-level Prescott is already at.

There's also the matter of the fact the organization has not shifted around Prescott's contract to this point. Right now, the Pro Bowl signal-caller is set to carry a cap hit of $55 million this season - one of the highest in the NFL this season. By allowing Prescott's contract to remain the same, the Cowboys have handcuffed themselves for no reason other than to see if they can get a long-term deal in the future.

Some of the top players will already be gone by that time too.

Good Move: Signing Eric Kendricks to Deal

Sure, Kendricks is 32 years old, but the experienced linebacker brought in one a one-year deal worth just over $3 million is excellent value at a position of need this offseason for the Cowboys.

The former Vikings' All-Pro has plenty of experience with new defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, so it's safe to assume that the Cowboys wanted an experienced player in the new play-caller's defense. It's a smart move with so many changes expected to hit the overall group.