Cowboys’ 2024 roster didn’t set Mike McCarthy up for success

FRISCO, Texas — Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones has done Mike McCarthy no favors in 2024. Now the two will go their separate ways.

McCarthy will not return as Cowboys head coach in 2025, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Monday.

Jones allowed McCarthy and his entire team to drag out the season in the final year of their contract with a roster arguably worse than the one that lost in the wild-card round to the Packers in Green Bay last January.

Yes, the Cowboys have become quarterbacks Dak Prescott the highest paid player in NFL history and Lamb CeeDee the second-highest paid receiver in the league, but they were going to be on the team in 2024 whether they had extensions or not. The team has taken few steps to surround its expensive talent and prepare them for success.

The Cowboys’ most notable free agent addition was linebacker Eric Kendricks on a one-year, $3 million contract. He outperformed his price tag, leading the Cowboys in tackles and serving as defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer’s coach on the field and a mentor to young linebackers such as DeMarvion overwhelmed And Marist Liufau.

Second biggest addition was running back Ezekiel Elliottwho returned after a one-year hiatus. It didn’t work. Elliott, who had 226 yards and three touchdowns, was inactive for one game for disciplinary reasons and was released before Week 18 at his request so he could try to sign with a playoff team.

The Cowboys have had success in training camp at various levels with the addition of free agents at defensive end. Carl Lawson and defensive tackle Linval Joseph.

But that was all.

The Cowboys relied on internal improvements, and those came in different doses from players such as defensive tackle. Mazi Smithtight end Luke SchoonmakerOvershown linebacker and defensive end Chauncey Golston.

But tight end Jake Ferguson was less effective in 2024 (474 ​​yards receiving, no touchdowns) after being added to the Pro Bowl roster in 2023 (761 yards receiving, 5 touchdowns). Pass passer Sam Williams tore his left ACL in training camp. Wide receiver Jalen Tolbert led the Cowboys in touchdowns (7), but was too quiet as the No. 2 receiver for part of the season. After catching the game-winning pass against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 5, he had only two games with more than three receptions and one game with more than 45 yards for the rest of the season.

Yes, injuries took their toll, but the Cowboys also struggled when healthy.

This season’s rookie class has had its ups and downs. First-round offensive tackle Tyler Guyton had an inconsistent season, in which he dealt with injuries and was occasionally pulled for poor play, including 18 penalties. Second round pick Marshawn Kneelanda defensive end, suffered a right knee injury for most of the season. Third round pick Cooper Beebe looks like a goalie in the middle. The same goes for Liufau at linebacker. Fourth-round cornerback Caelen Carson‘s confidence collapsed early and he finished the season on injured reserve following right shoulder surgery.

McCarthy has been a draft and development coach since his time with the Packers. Green Bay has rarely looked to free agency, outside of signing cornerback Charles Woodson and defensive end Jules Peppers.

Dallas has also become a draft and development team, but ignoring free agency doesn’t improve a roster.

The Cowboys haven’t played at the high end of the free agent market in over a decade (Brandon Carr2012). Instead, they focused on the middle or low end of the market, which is why they didn’t explore the possibility of adding an elite running back. Derrick Henri and instead signed Elliott last offseason. They believe in retaining as many of their own players as possible

Generally speaking, this approach worked. But not good enough for a Super Bowl run.

In 2023, the Cowboys’ big moves were trading for cornerback Stephon Gilmore and wide receiver Brandin cooks. They gave up day three picks for established players. They did not take similar steps last offseason. At the trade deadline this season, the Cowboys gave up a fourth-round pick for wide receiver Jonathan Mingo. He caught five passes, but his story will continue in 2025 when he has a full offseason with Prescott and whatever offense the Cowboys end up running.

The decision to move on from McCarthy is not only about a 7-10 record in 2024, but also his five years as head coach. Ultimately, McCarthy was hired to get the Cowboys to at least one NFC championship game, a place they haven’t been in since 1995. In three playoff occasions, that hasn’t happened.

For the next coach to achieve those goals, the pressure will be on Jones to make more improvements to the roster than he did during McCarthy’s final season in Dallas.