In a few years down the line, we might remember Jerry Jones and the Cowboys for the JJ-led chaos. More like the JJ Circus. The man who once promised to do “whatever it takes” to win another ring seems more focused on doing the absolute minimum. It’s the same ol’. As if Jonesy hits play on a broken tape recorder and the Big D has to go through it all over again.

The Cowboys have now made their fourth notable roster decision of the offseason—re-signing safety Markquese Bell to a three-year deal worth up to $12 million. Not exactly a move that shakes up the NFC, but hey, at least it’s something, right? After all, this is the same front office that spent less money on free agents last year than any other team.

The same front office that just told fans, yet again, that free agency isn’t where they plan to “fill voids.” So, in case you were hoping for a splash signing—don’t. It’s Jerry’s world, and Cowboys fans are just suffering through it.

Now, let’s rewind a bit. Before Bell’s deal, the Cowboys made three other key offseason moves—locking up defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa (for an unnecessarily expensive deal) on a four-year contract, keeping special teams ace C.J. Goodwin around for another year, and extending offensive lineman Brock Hoffman.

Notice a pattern? That’s right. It’s all about shuffling/re-shuffling within the organization, not adding new firepower. Meanwhile, teams like the Eagles and 49ers are out here making actual improvements.

And if you think that’s frustrating, just listen to Jerry. When asked about free agency, the Cowboys’ owner and general manager said, “I don’t think aggressive is the right word. … I’m not looking at free agency as a place to fill voids.” Yikes!

Now, why would a team that couldn’t even make it to the playoffs refuse to be aggressive? Good question. But Jerry and the Cowboys continue to treat the draft like it’s the only tool in the toolbox. To be fair, Bell’s deal makes sense. The 25-year-old safety was a bright spot in an otherwise shaky defense last season. Keeping him without letting him test the open market? Smart.

But let’s not pretend this is some franchise-altering move. The Cowboys had the option to place a restricted free agent tender on him and see if any team wanted to throw him a bag.

At this point, Cowboys fans have two choices: Believe Jerry has a master plan that will all make sense later. Or accept that this franchise is once again stuck in neutral. Either way, the rest of the league isn’t waiting around.

The result of Jerry Jones’s passiveness? 17 Free Agents

Oh wait, scratch that—16 now! And counting. Because as the NFL’s legal tampering period kicked off, the Cowboys sat back like a team that already had everything figured out. Spoiler alert: They don’t. At 11 a.m. CT, while other teams were wheeling, dealing, and throwing money like confetti, Dallas watched another one of their own walk away. Jourdan Lewis? Gone. Snatched up by the Jaguars in a move that now makes him the highest-paid nickel corner in the league.

Meanwhile, Jerry Jones is still over there talking about “prioritizing the draft.” Prioritizing what, exactly? Replacing key veterans with rookies who may or may not pan out? Bold strategy, let’s see how that works out. Fans had their pitchforks ready before free agency even began. “Seriously, we’re going to let Anger, Dowdle, Rush, and Lewis walk?” one fan tweeted in disbelief. But that’s exactly what happened.

The Cowboys entered Monday with 17 unrestricted free agents. Among them: Bryan Anger, Brandin Cooks, DeMarcus Lawrence, Cooper Rush, and more. And instead of making moves, the front office did what they do best—nothing. Just hours into the tampering period, one of their top priority free agents was off the market. Lewis, who played a career-high 872 defensive snaps in 2024 and had a strong PFF grade (79.0 in coverage, 71.7 overall), is now cashing in elsewhere while Dallas twiddles its thumbs.

Of course, Jerry had already set the stage for this disaster. “I don’t think aggressive is the right word,” he said when asked about free agency. Yeah, no kidding. That quote aged faster than a running back hitting 30. The Cowboys cleared cap space, restructured contracts, and then…decided to just sit on it? It’s like showing up to the auction with a full wallet and refusing to bid. Oh, no, Jonesy, what have you done?

Free agency isn’t a waiting game. It’s an all-out sprint, and Dallas is jogging while the rest of the league is halfway to the finish line.

Now, the fallout. Losing Lewis stings, and it’s not just because he was solid on the field. It’s about what it represents. Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland are talented, but both have battled injuries. Now, with Lewis packing bags for Jacksonville, the Cowboys will have to replace him, likely in the draft, because we all know Jerry isn’t about to go shopping.

Names like Michigan’s Will Johnson and Texas’ Jahdae Barron will be thrown around as potential first-round targets, but let’s be real—expecting a rookie to step in and fill those shoes immediately? Risky.

So, the bottom line is… The Cowboys, like all the previous years under JJ, are in a tough spot. Do they actually have a plan, or are they just hoping the draft magically fixes everything? Because right now, it’s looking a whole lot like the latter. And Cowboys fans? They’ve seen this movie before. And they know exactly how it ends.