The Dallas Cowboys are heading into another pivotal offseason, and once again, the fan base is calling for fireworks. Big names are being tossed around - from a potential extension for George Pickens to a dream scenario where Maxx Crosby lands in Dallas to supercharge the pass rush.
And, of course, there’s the annual plea for the front office to finally go all-in during free agency. The appetite for aggressive spending is louder than ever.
On paper, the Cowboys have the financial tools to make that happen. They lead the league in restructure potential, with the ability to free up a staggering $131 million in cap space through simple contract adjustments.
That’s not a typo. Even though they’re currently projected to be about $29 million over the expected $304 million salary cap, Dallas could clear the decks with a few strokes of the pen - mostly by converting base salaries into signing bonuses and pushing money into future years.
Sounds like a no-brainer, right? Just restructure, spend big, and chase the Super Bowl. But here’s the catch: what looks like freedom today can become a trap tomorrow.
Let’s break it down.
The Restructure Trap
When you restructure a contract, you're not magically saving money - you're just moving it around. Specifically, you're taking a player's base salary and turning it into a signing bonus, which can then be spread out over the remaining years of the deal.
That frees up cap space in the short term, but it also locks you into that player longer than you might want. If their performance dips or injuries pile up, you’re stuck.
Cutting or trading them becomes even more expensive because the remaining bonus money accelerates onto your cap.
We’ve seen this movie before. The New Orleans Saints have been living this reality for years - a team haunted by the financial ghosts of players past.
They’ve often had to keep aging veterans on the roster not because they were still producing, but because moving on would’ve cost more than keeping them. It’s like being stuck in a bad relationship because the breakup would cost too much.
Flexibility vs. Firepower
Another downside of heavy restructuring? It limits future flexibility.
Every dollar you push into next year is a dollar you can’t use when a new need pops up - whether that’s re-signing a breakout player, covering for an injury, or making a late-season addition. The San Francisco 49ers recently danced this line, carefully managing their cap to avoid losing the core of a championship-caliber roster.
They had to be precise with every dollar, and that’s the kind of tightrope Dallas could be walking if they go all-in now.
Think of it like this: if you spend all your lunch money on extra snacks today, you might be hungry by Friday.
The Dead Money Dilemma
Then there’s the dead money problem - the financial hangover that hits when a player leaves, but their cap charges stick around. In 2025, three teams (the Saints, 49ers, and Jets) carried over $100 million in dead money.
That’s more than a third of the salary cap going to players no longer on the roster. That’s not just inefficient - it’s debilitating.
You can’t build a contender when a huge chunk of your budget is tied up in players watching from home.
Sure, the cap is going up - everyone knows that. But if you’re pushing money into the future faster than the cap is growing, you’re setting yourself up for a reckoning.
A Smarter Path Forward
The most consistently successful teams know how to walk this line. They use restructuring strategically - not recklessly.
They understand that cap space is a long game. By resisting the urge to max out every credit card, they give themselves the flexibility to make smart moves when it really counts.
It’s not flashy, but it’s effective. And when that perfect opportunity comes along - whether it’s locking down a franchise cornerstone or making a splash trade - they’re ready.
That’s the challenge the Cowboys face this offseason. They have the tools to make a big splash, no question.
But they also have the opportunity to build something sustainable. The key is balance - knowing when to push chips to the middle of the table, and when to keep some in reserve.
What Comes Next?
The Cowboys believe they’ve built a roster that can compete. To them, the ingredients are already in the kitchen - maybe they just need a few finishing touches.
Fans, understandably, want more. They want bold moves, star power, and a sense that the team is doing everything it can to chase a title.
But ultimately, it’s not just about how much you spend - it’s about how wisely you spend it. The Cowboys have a chance to thread that needle this offseason. If they can be aggressive without mortgaging the future, they’ll be in position to contend now and stay competitive for years to come.
The cap space is there. The pressure is on. Now it’s time to see whether Dallas can cook up something special - or just heat up the same old leftovers.