Jerry Jones stands put on Cowboys' 2024 motto: 'All-in. All-in. All-in.'

Jerry Jones is firmly committing to going all-in.

The Dallas Cowboys owner proclaimed that the club was pushing its chips to the center of the table in preparation for the 2024 season back in January, creating anticipation for a fanbase that’s gone unquenched.

Jones explained that he believes the team has fully committed and will remain so, two days before the 2024 NFL Draft.

Jones communicated, via team transcript, their satisfaction with their performance in free agency, stating, “All-in. All-in. All-in. We are totally committed to these young players. We are fully invested in this draft.”

Jones’ original all-in musing was never free-agent specific. He spoke about “key contracts we’d like to address,” along with the team not building “for the future,” and authoring a time-is-now narrative in the aftermath of a disappointing defeat on Super Wild Card Weekend against the Green Bay Packers.

It kept the Cowboys buzzing, but regardless of what the onus of the statement was, the offseason has sputtered along with the re-signing of running back Rico Dowdle and the free agency adds of RB Royce Freeman and linebacker Eric Kendricks standing as the most notable moves in an otherwise silent spring. Meanwhile, contract extensions talks with Dak Prescott have been non-existent and long-term pacts with CeeDee Lamb and Micah Parsons have yet to be worked out.

All has been quiet on the Dallas front aside from more than a handful of notable losses, among them Tyron Smith, Tony Pollard and Jayron Kearse.

The ‘Boys are facing a financial constraint with only $6.29 million available (according to Over the Cap), making it risky to gamble on free agency. It is commonly advised to secure some of the previously mentioned long-term deals earlier in order to free up some cap space.

On Tuesday, Jones firmly asserted that it’s not due to lack of effort, but rather lack of results currently.

“Even if it looks like you’re only moving your eyebrows, you could still be working on something,” Jones stated. “Why would anyone assume we aren’t working on it? Sometimes I find myself working on it at 2 in the morning. Your real question seems to be why we haven’t completed and finalized anything yet. We’d like to see more progress. It’s all about options. Some need to pass the task along, the first one to go. Another might hold on to it a bit longer, deciding whether to move forward with it or not. This is what we call an option quarterback. This is how we address the problem. I’ve spent my life being an option quarterback. I can go as far as the sideline and still have a play in me. That’s just my style. But sometimes, you might end up giving money to someone who doesn’t deserve it. I’ve heard several names being thrown around for me lately. I know I should’ve taken my time before making a decision. I should’ve evaluated more defense before deciding whether to keep or pass it. To suggest that we’re not working on it is incorrect. The difference comes down to style. It’s always on our mind. It would be foolish not to acknowledge that the contracts are forthcoming.

Honestly, you seem to have an issue with the timing here, as I’m not prepared to leave yet.

Long and winding analogies aside, the Cowboys’ options ahead this week aren’t abundant. They’ve got just seven draft picks and plenty of needs, perhaps the most glaring being running back, offensive line and linebacker.

Just as he is every year, Jones is excited about the upcoming three days in Detroit.

“I’ve always felt confident that the players we drafted would make significant contributions on the field,” he said. “I can’t recall a time when I didn’t feel this way. However, in today’s game, rookies must contribute or else you’re not getting your money’s worth. These rookies are generally paid less compared to veterans. The standout ones will eventually earn more as their careers progress. But this must be balanced with the overall team management. You can have 9 or 10 players receiving 70 percent of the team’s budget. Hence, it’s crucial to have younger players who can fill in the gaps. How this is managed could make or break a team’s future. And if you look at the league, this has probably always been the case.”

Jones reiterated on Tuesday, just like he did in January, that the Cowboys are still fully committed. What this means will become apparent on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Notwithstanding the final outcome, it’s undoubtedly going to be a fascinating journey.