The Cowboys have spent the past week making the kind of moves that actually tell you something about how they want to operate.
Dallas has already set its 53-man roster, but as always, that was only the starting point. The picture shifted quickly with the waiving of Joe Milton, the claiming of Emari Demarcado, and the trades that sent Nate Thomas out and brought Broderick Jones in. It was a flurry of activity, and it came after a stretch when the Cowboys were earning a pretty good run of approval for the way they were handling business.
That approval took a little hit. The Broderick Jones trade, in particular, was not warmly received from a compensation standpoint.
A few of the recent cuts and transactions probably chipped away at some of the goodwill, too. Roster trimming has a way of doing that.
One minute people are feeling great about the direction, and the next minute there’s frustration because the numbers or the value don’t sit right.
Still, after a few days to sit with it, there’s a case to be made that Dallas deserves credit for doing what it often has not done enough of: acting decisively.
The Cowboys have spent plenty of years being criticized for not being active enough in certain roster-building areas. This is the opposite of that.
They swung. Then they swung again.
And they did it without worrying too much about looking perfect every time. That matters.
The Broderick Jones deal might end up being a win, and if it does, the early C grade won’t mean much. Even if it doesn’t, the larger point still stands.
Dallas was willing to make the move rather than sit on its hands. There was some mild panic after the trade because the Cowboys were down to only four draft picks for next year, at least in a quantitative sense.
But that concern didn’t stop them from going forward.
They also added a seventh a day later when they dealt Nate Thomas, which helped soften that concern. More importantly, the move suggested the Cowboys were comfortable trusting themselves to sort out the future when the future gets here.
That’s the part that feels different. Dallas is not acting like it has to protect its batting average at all costs.
The focus right now is 2026, and the Cowboys are taking their cuts. They’re not standing there afraid of what one move might mean for the next one, or even for next season.
For now, that makes this whole stretch feel like a breath of fresh air. Famous last words and all that, but right now the Cowboys seem to understand something important.
In Other News...
Cowboys May Have Found A Back Kansas City Let Slip Away
The Cowboys added a familiar name to their backfield by claiming running back Emari Demercado off waivers after Kansas City let him go. It is the kind of move that can fly under the radar, but it comes with a little more intrigue than most because Chiefs coach Andy Reid had praised Demercado, and some around the league believed his skill set could have fit well in Kansas Citys offense.
For Dallas, the appeal is obvious. Demercado is expected to step into a meaningful rotational role, giving the Cowboys a back who is known for pass protection and an efficient running style. In a backfield that always needs reliable pieces, the question now is not whether he has traits worth keeping, but how quickly he can carve out real snaps and prove Kansas City may have moved on a little too soon. [Read more 🡒]
Jason Witten Is Already Earning Serious Respect In His New Role
Jason Witten is back on the sideline in a different capacity, and the early word out of Oklahoma suggests the former Cowboys great has slipped into coaching with the same steady presence he showed as a player. The 11-time Pro Bowl tight end was hired as the Sooners tight ends coach, and his first game in the role comes when Oklahoma hosts UTEP. For Cowboys fans still accustomed to seeing Witten as one of the most reliable figures in franchise history, it is a notable next step in a football life that already seemed destined to stay close to the game.
Inside Oklahoma, Witten is already drawing praise from offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle and head coach Brent Venables, who have both noticed how quickly he has made himself useful. He has also been actively mentoring quarterback John Mateer, a sign that his value may extend beyond the tight end room as he settles into coaching. It is still early, but Wittens arrival has clearly made an impression, and the Sooners appear to be embracing the kind of knowledge and credibility he carried for years in Dallas. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Cheerleaders Pay Debate Just Put Dallas Fans At Odds
The Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders are heading into the new season with a very different paycheck after a reported 400% raise lifted their hourly wage from about $15 to roughly $75. On paper, it is the kind of change that immediately shifts the conversation around one of the most visible groups in the franchise, especially with their first home appearance coming in Week 2 against the Giants.
The numbers attached to the raise have already fueled plenty of debate among fans, with the reported payout landing around $2,500 per game and between $50,000 and $75,000 over a full season. For a group that has long been part of the Cowboys image as much as the game-day presentation, the bigger question now is how this new arrangement changes the spotlight around them once the season gets rolling. [Read more 🡒]