For the first time since 2020, the Dallas Cowboys won't be participating in the NFL playoffs.
America's Team is on the outside looking into the postseason picture after enduring their first losing season in four years. There just wasn't anything the Cowboys could do to foster momentum on either side of the ball this season, leaving owner/general manager Jerry Jones heading back to the drawing board this offseason.
If the Cowboys want to make serious improvements this offseason, it's time to trim the fat. Several individuals have outstayed their welcome in the Lone Star State and saying goodbye to any underperformers will be a major step toward an eventual postseason return.
With that in mind, here are six Cowboys who are already on thin ice this offseason.
1. Mike McCarthy, HC
There might not be a bigger Cowboy on thin ice this offseason than head coach Mike McCarthy.
The 60-year-old coach's future with the franchise was already up in the air following last year's horrific postseason collapse against the Green Bay Packers. Optimistic Dallas fans hoped that McCarthy had learned from his mistakes and would hit the ground running once the new season began, but that wasn't the case.
Instead of looking like an "all-in" Super Bowl contender, the Cowboys were one of the NFL's most underwhelming teams under McCarthy's watch in 2024. On top of having not touched the .500 mark since Week 2, the Cowboys consistently struggle to beat halfway decent teams and have done more losing than winning at AT&T Stadium despite going 7-0 at home in 2023.
Yes, McCarthy has won a Super Bowl before, but he hasn't come close to achieving that feat since joining the Cowboys. Dallas has missed the playoffs twice during his five seasons at the helm and even when the team qualified for the postseason from 2021-23, it only has a 1-3 record to show for it.
Although it's possible that the Cowboys could re-sign McCarthy now that his contract is going to expire, they likely shouldn't. There isn't anything about his run that suggests that he's capable of achieving more in Dallas, so it's in the team's best interest to part ways and replace him with someone who hasn't already worn out their welcome.
2. Jonathan Mingo, WR
In an effort to shake up the wide receiver room, the Cowboys acquired second-year playmaker Jonathan Mingo from the Carolina Panthers in exchange for a 2025 fourth-round pick.
Cowboys fans were disappointed by the deal, mainly because the team opted to pursue Mingo rather than already established options who were available before the deadline, including Davante Adams and DeAndre Hopkins. Although the 23-year-old WR displayed potential during his rookie season, his 2024 performance suggested he wouldn't be the type of player to turn Dallas' season around.
After registering 12 catches for 121 receiving yards without a touchdown before the trade, Mingo's performance hasn't improved at all. The former Ole Miss product has since caught just 3-of-14 targets (21.4%) for just 22 yards since the trade as he's yet to find the back of the end zone during his time in the NFL.
Before Week 18, Mingo's 48.8 receiving grade on Pro Football Focus was the third-worst mark among 125 eligible wideouts. That's without mentioning how his 47.5 grade for overall offense is the second-worst mark at his position, further illustrating the negative impact he's made on the gridiron.
Mingo's rookie contract runs through the 2026 season, but that doesn't mean he'll spend its duration in Dallas. After all, the Cowboys can free up his entire $1.55 million salary for the 2025 campaign if they trade him at any point in the offseason, per Spotrac.
Considering how the Panthers managed to convince the Cowboys to absorb his contract, America's Team can surely find a trade partner to take Mingo off their hands.
3. Brandin Cooks, WR
The 2024 season marked Brandin Cooks' second with the Cowboys after being traded to Dallas from the Houston Texans in March 2023. Although the veteran receiver failed to hit the 1,000-yard for just the third time since 2015, he was still one of the Cowboys' better pass-catchers with 657 yards and eight TDs on 54 catches.
Unfortunately, fans who hoped to see more of the same from the 31-year-old in Year 2 were left disappointed, to say the least.
Cooks has looked like he's taken a step back this season, mustering just 244 yards and three touchdowns on 23 catches in nine games before Week 18. His 10.6 yards per reception and 27.1 yards per game are among the worst rates of his 11-year career, as is his 71.0 passer rating when targeted.
Although part of Cook's lackluster production likely stems from a knee injury, it isn't a secret that he's left much to be desired when healthy. Now that he's set to hit free agency this offseason, it's hard to imagine the Cowboys being interested in a re-signing — especially if his production continues going downhill from here.
4. Mazi Smith, DT
The 2024 NFL season was a pivotal year for Mazi Smith.
Despite only being drafted in 2023, Smith entered Year 2 on thin ice following an abysmal rookie performance. The former Michigan Wolverine struggled to live up to the hype stemming from being a first-round pick, mostly due to a mixture of the Cowboys forcing him to lose a ton of weight and failing to play to his strengths on the gridiron.
Having said that, defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer's arrival was supposed to help turn Smith's trajectory around this season. Unfortunately, Zimmer — who's helped develop several talented defenders throughout his career — hasn't had much luck with the struggling 23-year-old.
Smith entered Week 18 as PFF's fifth-worst graded interior defender with an overall defense grade of 36.0. If that wasn't grim enough, the Southfield, MI native's 49.0 pass rush grade is the third-worst mark among eligible players at his position.
Although Smith had a few bright spots in the middle of the season, he's regressed in recent weeks, leaving many to wonder if he'll ever live up to his potential. He's still young enough to turn his career around theoretically, but it's possible that the Cowboys have seen enough and are willing to give Smith a fresh start elsewhere.
5. Dak Prescott, QB
Expectations surrounding Dak Prescott were higher than ever this season after the franchise quarterback signed a four-year, $240 million extension in early September.
Prescott didn't get the opportunity to live up to his new paycheck, though. His season prematurely ended in November due to a partially torn hamstring, limiting him to just eight starts on the year — bringing his number of missed games up to 26 since 2020.
Having said that, Prescott wasn't exactly lighting the world on fire when he was healthy, leaving Cowboys fans to wonder if he'll be worth the average of $60 million he's set to make across the next four seasons.
In his eight starts, Prescott led the Cowboys to a 3-5 record while averaging 247.3 passing yards per game with a 64.7% completion rate. The three-time Pro Bowl QB's passer rating also plummeted from 105.9 in 2023 to 86.0 — a new career-low — this season, and that's without mentioning how his eight interceptions are only one fewer than last year's total despite playing nine fewer games this time around.
Prescott isn't going anywhere anytime soon, but it's clear that he has to be better going forward. The Cowboys are giving him a truckload of money because they believe he's their best shot at returning to the Super Bowl. Failing to look like his old self next season will make his contract only look worse, potentially leading to the team looking for a way out before it's even over.
6. Andrew Booth Jr., CB
The Cowboys were willing to take a swing on Andrew Booth Jr. when they acquired him from the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for fellow cornerback Nahshon Wright in August.
It seemed like a risk worth taking at the time. After all, Booth was just drafted 42nd overall by the Vikings in 2022 following an impressive All-ACC career at Clemson. Even though things hadn't gone well in Minnesota, the Cowboys hoped that a change in scenery could help the 24-year-old get his career back on track.
Although he's had a few decent moments, Booth's time with the Cowboys has been largely forgettable. He's spent the majority of the campaign on the practice squad before officially being elevated to the 53-man roster on Dec. 21.
When he's been in the lineup, Booth has struggled to defend the pass. Entering Week 18, he played to a putrid 28.7 coverage grade, which is a dramatic drop from last year's mark of 69.1. The Dacula, GA native's worst performance came in Week 17 when he was targeted six times by the Philadelphia Eagles' backup QBs, allowing five completions for 111 yards and two touchdowns.
It would've been nice if Booth had excelled in Zimmer's defense, but that hasn't been the case. The third-year CB simply isn't a good fit for the Cowboys, meaning he'll likely join a new team when he becomes a free agent in March.
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