For years Dallas Cowboys fans have made it known they aren't happy with the job owner/general manager Jerry Jones has done constructing the team.
He's made some bargain signings in free agency during that time, and the only real splashy trade he made was bringing in wide receiver George Pickens from the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Jones knows his fan base is growing restless, which is why at the NFL combine he admitted he will be a much more active spender this year than he's been in years past.
"I would bet that we will spend more money in free agency than we have," Jones said. "… I guess what I would say is make no mistake about it, I don’t have a higher priority than to go and win a Super Bowl."
The problem with that declaration is the Cowboys are $53.1 million over the salary cap for 2026, according to Over the Cap.
However, Jones has shown in the past he isn't afraid to make a big move - and now the same can be said for his salary cap navigation.
ESPN's Todd Archer reported that Jones is restructuring the contracts of several of his top stars to free up some space, and there are multiple others moves that could be made to add additional funds.
"The Cowboys will first have to create salary cap room," Archer wrote. "Well over the $301.2 million cap that was set Friday, they will restructure the contracts of quarterback Dak Prescott, wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and left guard Tyler Smith, which will create $66 million of room.
"Jones said the Cowboys will rework the contracts of defensive tackles Kenny Clark, Quinnen Williams and Osa Odighizuwa, who are scheduled to count around $63 million against the cap. With Clark and Williams, the Cowboys can look to add voidable years to their contracts then restructure that way."
Adding void years can be seen by some as playing with fire, especially when every dollar teams agree to spend eventually has to be paid. But Jones has made it clear he's not afraid to sacrifice some of his future to make a run at a championship now.
"I want you to know that the only way to push more [out] is for me to go borrow some of my future, OK?" Jones said. "Expect me to go borrow some of my future."
2026 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.