Jerry Jones made headlines this week with a bold promise: he’s ready to “bust the budget” to turn the Dallas Cowboys into a true Super Bowl contender. But here’s the thing-on offense, they’re already built like one. Nearly the entire starting unit is locked in for next season, and that group was electric for most of the year.
The issue? Defense.
It wasn’t just bad-it was historically bad. The Cowboys are staring down a major rebuild on that side of the ball, needing help at every level: three new pass rushers, at least one starting-caliber corner, two starting linebackers, and a safety.
And that’s just to get back to average.
To make matters trickier, Dallas is currently projected to be $39 million over the salary cap, per Over The Cap. But don’t panic-this is the NFL, where the cap is more of a suggestion than a hard stop.
With a few savvy moves, the front office could free up nearly $95 million in cap space. Let’s break down how they can do it.
1. Restructure Dak Prescott - $30.96 million in savings
This one feels inevitable. Prescott’s contract is tailor-made for a restructure, and the Joneses have a long history of using this tool to stay cap-compliant. Yes, pushing money down the line with a 32-year-old quarterback carries risk, but Dak’s game isn’t built on speed or scrambling-he wins with poise, accuracy, and command of the offense.
As long as he stays healthy, there’s no reason to think he can’t deliver another 3-5 years of high-level play. A simple restructure-converting base salary into a bonus-would immediately clear nearly $31 million. That’s a massive chunk of breathing room.
2. Restructure CeeDee Lamb - $19.02 million in savings
Lamb is entering the second year of his four-year, $136 million extension, and he’s worth every penny. Restructuring his deal is a no-brainer. Dallas did it last offseason to free up $20 million, and they can do it again with similar results.
His $25 million base salary becomes guaranteed in March. That’s the window to convert it into a signing bonus, spreading the cap hit over the life of the deal.
The result? Nearly $19 million in savings, and no loss in roster flexibility.
3. Cut Terence Steele - $14 million in savings
This one’s complicated.
Steele’s contract is hefty-he’s the fifth-highest-paid right tackle in terms of guaranteed money. But his 2025 performance didn’t match the paycheck. Among 77 tackles with at least 300 pass-blocking snaps, he allowed the most pressures (52), the second-most hurries (37), and was near the bottom in pass-blocking efficiency.
Still, cutting him isn’t a slam dunk. Dallas doesn’t have a clear replacement in-house, and using a premium draft pick on a tackle isn’t ideal when the defense is in full triage mode. So while moving on would save $14 million, it also creates a new hole on a line that’s been the offense’s backbone.
4. Extend Quinnen Williams - $15.56 million in savings
Williams was a midseason acquisition who instantly became a game-changer. From Week 11 on, he led all interior defenders in pressures (21) and posted the highest pass-rush win rate (18.4%) in the league. That’s elite production, and it’s no coincidence the defense looked better-if not fixed-once he arrived.
He’s under contract for two more years after signing a $96 million extension with the Jets in 2023, but the smart move is to get ahead of the curve. Extending him now would not only lock in a foundational piece of the defense but also clear over $15 million in cap room.
Given what Dallas gave up to get him, there’s no chance he’s going anywhere. This is a win-win.
5. Extend Kenny Clark - $15.36 million in savings
Clark is another veteran who came alive late in the season, especially after Williams joined the fold. He posted an 80.8 pass-rush grade in true pass sets and racked up 17 pressures, showing he’s still got plenty in the tank.
The Cowboys could cut him post-June 1 and save $21.5 million, but that doesn’t seem to be the plan. The front office has spoken highly of Clark’s leadership and impact, and all signs point to him being part of the solution moving forward.
The better option? Extend him.
He’s currently set to make $21.3 million and will turn 31 in October. A short-term extension under $20 million per year would lower his cap hit and keep a key piece of the defensive front in place.
Bottom Line
The Cowboys have work to do-there’s no sugarcoating that. But the idea that they’re stuck in cap hell is a myth. With a handful of calculated moves, they can clear nearly $95 million and get aggressive in free agency or retain key pieces on defense.
Jerry Jones says he’s ready to spend. If these five moves are any indication, he’ll have plenty of room to do just that.
The offense is already built to win now. If the front office can patch together a competent defense, the Cowboys won’t just be contenders-they’ll be dangerous.