Offseason management, relying on young rookies, and injuries to key players have all contributed to Cowboys’ struggles this season.
It goes beyond the length of time it took to sign wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and quarterback Dak Prescott to contracts that make them the second-highest-paid receiver in the NFL and the highest-paid player in NFL history.
After the stunning 48-32 loss to the Green Bay Packers in the wild-card round in January, the Cowboys knew they faced difficult decisions on their impending free agents.
They tried to keep running back Tony Pollard with a lucrative multiyear offer that was not far off the three-year deal he signed with the Tennessee Titans (three years, with a max of $24 million and $10.