When it comes to the Dallas Cowboys’ financial choices, Jerry Jones pulls no punches. The billionaire team owner remains firm in his conviction to hand former first-round pick Ezekiel Elliott a staggering 6-year, $90 million contract in 2019, despite the lingering $6 million dead cap hit putting the team’s movement in a frenzy.

In a recent statement, Jones dismisses any regrets over investing so heavily in Elliott. “What I can do for our fans is learn from what we did with Zeke,” he asserts. “I’m more likely to learn from that than some new face.”

Drafted 4th overall by Dallas in 2016 out of Ohio State, Elliott was the catalyst for the Cowboys’ offensive dynamo early in his career. He led the league in rushing as a rookie and made three straight Pro Bowls from 2016-2018. However, his gameplay declined in recent seasons before Dallas cut him last year.

Jones’ unwavering stance stems from his belief that the lessons gleaned from the Elliott mega-contract debacle are invaluable assets. After signing a 1-year, $3 million deal with the Patriots in 2023, the 28-year-old Elliott is now a free agent. Spotrac projects his market value at just a 1-year, $2.7 million contract for 2024 as a potential complementary back.

His comments shed light on the harsh economic realities plaguing NFL teams. Bloated contracts can shackle franchises for years, limiting their financial flexibility to address glaring roster needs. Yet, for Jones, the potential salary cap pitfalls of Elliott’s mega-deal are outweighed by his steadfast commitment to the Cowboys’ long-term success. His willingness to learn from past missteps supersedes any temporary cap issues.

Salary cap purgatory after Ezekiel Elliott

Despite Jerry Jones’ steadfast support of the Ezekiel Elliott deal, the Cowboys find themselves in salary cap purgatory. Key departures like Tony Pollard to Tennessee have pushed further an already dicey cap situation. To create breathing room, Dallas had to restructure the contracts of Dak Prescott and Zack Martin, pushing over $55 million in cap charges to the 2025 season. However, even these moves provided limited flexibility for upgrading the roster through free agency.

The hard truth is Dallas’ cap issues are largely self-inflicted. As an elite drafting team, the Cowboys have handed out mega-extensions to retain homegrown stars like Trevon Diggs, Donovan Wilson, and of course, Elliott. While maximizing a title window, these lucrative deals mortgage the future cap.

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Vice President Stephen Jones admitted the team must “make some decisions in terms of where we allocate dollars” given their financial constraints. In prioritizing Prescott, it’s likely ascending talents like CeeDee Lamb or Micah Parsons eventually depart for greener pastures.

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Yet this cap quagmire is the price Dallas pays for its sustained success. The alternative of mediocrity is far less acceptable for an owner like Jones fixated on competing for Lombardi Trophies annually. While disappointing, embracing the cap’s difficulties is simply part of the Cowboys’ championship blueprint.

For longtime fans accustomed to Dallas’ free-spending ways, this currently austere approach is understandably frustrating. But as Jones preaches, recognizing and learning from past mistakes like Elliott’s deal is the best path forward. Overcoming their cap struggles will be this storied franchise’s next major litmus test.

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