The Dallas Cowboys head into free agency following another early playoff exit. The franchise's Super Bowl drought is closing in on 30 years, meaning the pressure is on for the Cowboys to bring the Lombardi Trophy back to Big D next February — regardless of what Jerry Jones' definition of "all in" is.
Dallas has roster spots to fill this offseason, as well as areas it must upgrade. Some returning Cowboys left much to be desired last season, putting their future with the franchise in jeopardy with free agency beginning on March 13.
Here are five Cowboys who are on thin ice with the NFL's free agent period right around the corner.
1. WR Michael Gallup
It was only in 2019 that Michael Gallup looked like the perfect No. 2 wide receiver for the Cowboys. The former Colorado State playmaker was consistent throughout his sophomore year, racking up 66 receptions for 1,107 receiving yards and six touchdowns.
Unfortunately, Gallup hasn't come close to reaching those heights since then.
The 28-year-old veteran has failed to reach the 500-yard mark in each of the last three seasons. While injuries played somewhat of a factor, health wasn't an excuse in 2023 as Gallup put up an uninspiring 34-418-2 stat line while suiting up in all 17 games.
Assuming that he can't turn things around, Gallup's five-year, $57.5 million contract looks worse by the day. He still has three years remaining on the deal and carries a $13.85 million cap hit in 2024, which worsens when you consider that the Cowboys are $4 million over the salary cap, per Spotrac.
Nevertheless, Dallas can free up $9.5 million by trading/waiving Gallup after June 1, so it wouldn't surprise me if they found a cheaper/more consistent upgrade in free agency.
Considering how Jones isn't even sure what to do with the struggling WR, the ice might break beneath Gallup's feet sooner rather than later.
2. QB Trey Lance
The Cowboys brought in Trey Lance as their third-string quarterback last season, acquiring him from the San Francisco 49ers for a fourth-round pick. Even though the former 2021 third-overall pick didn't play a single snap for Dallas, the franchise still opted to exercise his fourth-year bonus to keep him in Big D for 2024.
So, why is Lance on thin ice? There are a few reasons.
For starters, the jury is still out on who Lance can be. He's only attempted 102 passes at the NFL level, which is only made worse by the fact that he only has 420 total passing attempts since his freshman year at North Dakota State in 2018. It's hard to look at those numbers and feel good about the idea of him possibly being Dak Prescott's successor.
Secondly, Lance carries a $5.3 million cap hit for the 2024 season, per Spotrac. That's a lot of money to pay a third-stringer (assuming Cooper Rush returns in the QB2 role) who hasn't even proven himself yet. It's also a tough pill to swallow given that Dallas is about $4 million over the salary cap with several free agents it must re-sign.
At the end of the day, don't be surprised if Lance is traded away in favor of a cheaper free-agent option.
3. DT Mazi Smith
There was a ton of hype surrounding Mazi Smith ahead of his rookie campaign last fall. The former Michigan Wolverine was selected 26th overall last April due to his impressive physical qualities, leaving Dallas fans hoping that he'd become a mainstay on the defensive line for years to come.
Instead, Smith's rookie year left much to be desired. A big chunk of that had to do with the Cowboys making him lose a ton of weight before putting him in defensive situations that he didn't experience during his time at Michigan. Once his first pro season wrapped up, Smith finished with just nine solo tackles while missing 13.3% of his attempts and one sack while playing 28% of defensive snaps.
Even worse is the fact that the 22-year-old was Pro Football Focus' seventh-worst graded interior defender against the run out of 137 eligible players.
Smith is still way too young to be labeled a bust, but I also wouldn't be surprised if the Cowboys aren't as high on him anymore. Mike Zimmer is also the new defensive coordinator in town, meaning there's the possibility that Smith doesn't fit his vision for the future.
If the Cowboys want to stop the run more consistently in 2024, Smith's role could be in trouble.
4. QB Dak Prescott
The majority of Cowboys players face a ton of pressure for the simple fact that they play for America's Team. However, few of them (if any at all) face as much pressure as Dak Prescott.
There's no denying that Prescott is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. The three-time Pro Bowl quarterback was terrific during the 2023 regular season, leading the league in completions (410) and touchdown passes (36) while throwing for over 4,500 yards en route to finishing second in MVP voting.
Unfortunately, Prescott's regular-season performances aren't the issue. The 30-year-old gunslinger consistently comes up short once the postseason comes around, proven by his 2-5 playoff record since 2016. He isn't the only reason why the Cowboys consistently suffer early playoff exits, however, he isn't exactly helping the issue either.
The former Mississippi State gunslinger's time in Big D could end if he doesn't deliver next season. Prescott only has one year left on his contract and is looking for a massive extension, however, the chances of another deal with the Cowboys go down if he can't lead them to multiple postseason wins come January.
The Cowboys won't find a QB better than Prescott in free agency, but I wouldn't be surprised if they begin to think about who's up next if they don't intend to extend the Sulphur, LA native.
5. HC Mike McCarthy
Who says that this list is only exclusive to players?
Mike McCarthy is another Cowboy who finds himself on thin ice ahead of his fifth campaign with the franchise. Much like Prescott, the 60-year-old head coach doesn't have an issue delivering results during the regular season, leading Dallas to three consecutive 12-5 seasons with two NFC East titles.
At the same time, the Cowboys are an abysmal 1-3 in the playoffs during that stretch. Things reached a new low this past January when Dallas fell 48-32 to the Green Bay Packers in the Wild Card Round.
McCarthy is now in the final year of the five-year contract he signed back in 2020. While some Cowboys fans don't want to see him go anywhere, owner Jerry Jones has decided not to extend McCarthy ahead of the 2024 season. Reading between the lines, it's clear that the veteran HC's job is on the line this year.
Hopefully, Jones gives McCarthy all the tools he needs to succeed in 2024. Otherwise, the Cowboys might be starting a new era in 2025.
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