Cowboys' 2024 roster doesn't set up Mike McCarthy for success

FRISCO, Texas — Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones isn't doing Mike McCarthy any favors in 2024. Now the two will go their separate ways.

On Monday, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter that McCarthy will not be the Cowboys head coach again in 2025.

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

Yes, the Cowboys made quarterback Dak Prescott the highest-paid player in NFL history and CeeDee Lamb the league's second-highest-paid wide receiver, but both will be on the team in 2024, extension or not. The team has made several moves to surround its high-priced talent and position it for success.

The Cowboys' most notable free agent addition is linebacker Eric Kendricks, who has a one-year, $3 million contract. He punched above his price tag, leading the Cowboys in tackles and serving as on-field coach for defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, as well as DeMarvion Overshown and Maris Mentor to young linebackers such as Marist Liufau.

The second biggest addition is running back Ezekiel Elliott, who returns after a one-year hiatus. But no success. Elliott, who rushed for 226 yards and three touchdowns, missed one game for disciplinary reasons and was released at his request before Week 18 so he could try to sign with a playoff team.

The Cowboys have had varying success in training camp, adding free agent defensive end Carl Lawson and defensive tackle Linval Joseph.

But that's it.

The Cowboys are relying on improvement internally and to varying degrees from players such as defensive tackle Mads Smith, tight end Luke Schoonmaker, linebacker Overshown and defensive end Chauncey Gholston. .

But tight end Jake Ferguson was less efficient in 2024 (474 ​​yards receiving, no touchdowns) after joining the Pro Bowl in 2023 (761 yards receiving, five touchdowns). Pass rusher Sam Williams suffered a torn left ACL in training camp. Wide receiver Jalen Tolbert leads the Cowboys in receiving touchdowns (7) but has been too quiet as the No. 2 receiver for parts of the season. After catching the game-winning pass in Week 5 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, he had just two games with more than three catches and one game with more than 45 yards the rest of the season.

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

The rookie lineup has had its ups and downs this season. First-round offensive tackle Tyler Guyton had an inconsistent season, plagued by injuries and benched at times for poor performances that included 18 sacks. Second-round pick Marshawn Kneeland is a defensive end who has spent much of the season dealing with a right knee injury. Third-round pick Cooper Beebe looks like a goalie under center. The same goes for defender Liu Fu. Fourth-round cornerback Kellen Carson's confidence collapsed early, and he ended the season on injured reserve after right shoulder surgery.

McCarthy has been a draft and development coach since his days with the Packers. Other than signing cornerback Charles Woodson and defensive end Julius Peppers, Green Bay rarely dipped its toes into free agency.

Dallas has also become a draft and development team, but ignoring free agency won't make the roster better.

The Cowboys haven't reached the high end of free agency in over a decade (Brandon Carr, 2012). Instead, they're focused on the lower-mid-market, which is why they signed Elliott last offseason instead of exploring the possibility of adding elite free agent running back Derrick Henry. They believe in retaining as many of their players as possible

Generally speaking, this method is effective. Just not good enough to play in the Super Bowl.

The big trades for the Cowboys in 2023 are cornerback Stephon Gilmore and wide receiver Brandin Cooks. They gave up a Day 3 pick to find proven players. They didn't make a similar move last offseason. The Cowboys gave up a fourth-round pick at this season's trade deadline for wide receiver Jonathan Mingo. He caught five passes, but his story will continue in 2025, when he will have a full offseason with Prescott regardless of what offense the Cowboys end up running.

The decision to move on from McCarthy wasn't just about a 7-10 record in 2024, it was about his five years as head coach. Ultimately, McCarthy was hired to help the Cowboys get to at least an NFC championship game, an opportunity they hadn't had since 1995. In three playoff chances, none of that materialized.

For the next coach to achieve those goals, Jones will be under pressure to improve even more than McCarthy did in his final season in Dallas.