'All in'? Why Dallas Cowboys' quiet free agency doesn't diminish Jerry Jones' bold claim

“All in.”

Two words – five letters – currently tied to Jerry Jones like an anchor as his Dallas Cowboys seemingly struggle to gain yards in the NFL’s 2024 free agent market.

Since the opening of Monday's negotiating window and start of the league’s new year at 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday, “America’s Team” finally made a consequential move last night – agreeing to a deal with veteran Eric Kendricks, the former Minnesota Vikings defensive captain and tackling machine reuniting with new Dallas defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, the Vikes’ head coach from 2014 through 2021.

It’s a solid pickup for a team installing a new system after struggling against the run late last season – notably in a blowout wild-card loss to the Green Bay Packers – especially given the backdrop of renewed uncertainty about the health of linebacker Leighton Vander Esch. It also might seem like a drop in the bucket given the reigning NFC East champions have lost center Tyler Biadasz and defensive ends Dorance Armstrong and Dante Fowler Jr. – all to former DC and new Washington Commanders coach Dan Quinn – along with lead back Tony Pollard (Tennessee Titans), plus the likelihood that cornerback Stephon Gilmore and longtime left tackle Tyron Smith will be among the next departures.

Given the way a once-promising 2023 season ended at Jerry World, where the Cowboys hadn’t lost since Tom Brady’s final opening day as a player until the Pack embarrassed them, the past few days haven’t been encouraging to Cowboys Nation – Cowboys banana republic? – particularly in light of Jones’ comments after assessing the recent campaign and retention of head coach Mike McCarthy.

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“We will be all in," Jones told his team’s website. “I would anticipate we will be all in at the end of this year.

“It will be going all in on different people than you've done in the past. We will be going all in. We've seen some things out of some of the players that we want to be all in on. Yes, I would say that you will see us this coming year not build it for the future. It's the best way I've ever said. And that ought to answer a lot of questions."

Not so much, Jerry?

Jones attempted a clarification at the NFL scouting combine a few weeks later.

"Your definition of what is 'all in' and mine might not be the same thing," he said, "but I'm trying to win the games this year with my decision. So I'm all in to this year.

"(I) think the attention that the nuances of where we are with the cap, the nuances of where we are with our position in the draft, the nuances of where we are with our free agents that we get that involved in (is) the definition of, 'We're all in.' "

All clear?

“Now, what is this team really gonna be?” NFL Network analyst David Carr asked Wednesday.

However much Cowboys haters – and perpetually disappointed supporters – might dislike it, Jones deserves credit and a defense here.

He’s been “all in” – courtesy of several good decisions and plenty of corresponding poor ones – while chasing his fourth Super Bowl for the past three decades. Dallas remains loaded with elite players even if there’s virtually no salary cap bandwidth to adjust the roster until quarterback and 2023 MVP runner-up Dak Prescott’s future is addressed. The $59.5 million cap hit in the final year of his contract is the second-largest in the league after Deshaun Watson’s, leaving Jones with a big decision given Prescott – perhaps the NFL's preeminent businessman not named Kirk Cousins – cannot be franchised next offseason and also possesses a no-trade clause. Elsewhere, All-Pro wideout CeeDee Lamb is entering a walk year, while All-Pro linebacker Micah Parsons is now eligible for an extension of his own.

Taking all of that into account, Dallas’ current restraint makes sense. And why would Jones want to completely run it back with players who are fairly replaceable – especially given how last season ended, with a defensive collapse and offense that often couldn’t run effectively when it needed to?

And let’s not forget the Cowboys have drafted pretty darn well in recent years, are already set up to get a nice haul of compensatory picks next year and have shown an ability to get good players at a discount. Just a year ago, they traded for Gilmore and speedy receiver Brandin Cooks, bartering nothing more than picks beyond the fourth round – which also says something about Dallas’ ability to leverage the draft. Maybe better to wait for the dust to settle around the first wave of free agency – other teams currently able to pay premium prices, perhaps for sub-premium players, following the cap’s expansion to $255.4 million – and see what’s on sale?

Good as Smith has been since his arrival in 2011, he’s 33 and hasn’t played a full season since … 2015. This is a good year to draft a replacement and/or shift 2022 first-rounder Tyler Smith from guard to left tackle. Gilmore is also an aging luxury with Trevon Diggs returning from knee surgery opposite breakout corner DaRon Bland. And Pollard? Dangerous as the change-of-pace guy following Zeke Elliott two years ago. But as  a lead back? Meh. With options including J.K. Dobbins, AJ Dillon and Dalvin Cook currently available to choose from – and even Rico Dowdle, who showed pop behind Pollard last season – not to mention the draft, a running game that ranked 14th in 2023 should wind up at least in a similar place in '24.

When it comes to staying atop the division, the reloading Philadelphia Eagles are likely to be an issue in 2024. Improving NFC threats in Detroit, Green Bay, Los Angeles and Atlanta and the pervasive one in San Francisco are going to be issues in 2024. McCarthy’s inability to get this group going in the postseason is going to be a front-burner topic in Big D until it’s not … especially with the winningest coach not named Don Shula waiting for his phone to ring.

But maybe let’s not question the Cowboys’ commitment to winning, even if you disagree with the process, just yet – particularly since being “all in” on criticizing them will remain a year-long process until Jones finally corners that fourth Lombardi Trophy.

Follow USA TODAY Sports' Nate Davis on X, formerly Twitter @ByNateDavis.