Cowboys: 3 2022 free agency mistakes Jerry Jones regrets

Jerry Jones’ missteps in free agency during the 2022 offseason are a big reason why the Cowboys didn’t make a deep playoff run last year.

The play of Dak Prescott tends to dominate Dallas Cowboys headlines on an annual basis, but questions over the quarterback position overshadow a lot of choices Jerry Jones has made about the team’s roster. In particular, his errors during the 2022 offseason failed to surround Prescott with the talent required to be a legitimate Super Bowl contender.

The good news for fans in Dallas is that not a lot of the mistakes Jones made during 2022 have hamstrung the franchise over the long haul. One-year deals can only be so problematic in the context of modern NFL salary cap structures.

Even so, Jones failed to make enough impact signings in 2022 to elevate his roster. The following three mistakes are still costing the Cowboys.

Jerry Jones decisions Cowboys owner, GM regrets: 3. Signing Dante Fowler

Inking Fowler to a one-year deal at just under $3 million was a reasonable game for the Cowboys to take. He gave the defense six sacks in a rotational role, but once again, he failed to live up to his significant potential.

Some might point to the fact that Dallas brought him back on another one-year deal this offseason as a sign that the agreement worked out. That’s a short-sighted view. Fowler will struggle to log regular snaps behind Micah Parsons and Dorance Armstrong.

Such a reserve role should be reserved for a player on a minimum contract who can contribute on special teams. Fowler is slightly overpaid and doesn’t give Dallas anything outside of obvious passing downs. He doesn’t make enough money to be classified as a major mistake, but he’s still not worth the money or roster spot.