Mailbag: Areas of improvement for front office?

(Editor's Note: Time to check the mail! The DallasCowboys.com staff writers answer your questions here in 'Mailbag' presented by Miller Lite.)

Now that the offseason is here, what's one thing you like about the way the front office operates, and what is one thing you hope might change? For me, the drafting has been fantastic over the years, but I do wish we could be a bit smarter when negotiating with veteran players. The long negotiations with both Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb seemed to me to be a distraction, which is never healthy for a team. – Steve Cullis/Wymondham, UK

Patrik: I'll start with free agency (*cracks knuckles*) seeing as that's something I've long been hoping for improvement on by this front office.

To their credit, especially to help usher in the Dan Quinn era in 2021, they began to part from their usually inactive ways in the spring and truly gave Quinn what he desired; and that led to an impact group of safeties — a group that had been long overlooked — and other pieces like Dante Fowler being added to the roster. That energy was curiously absent in 2024, however, and they paid for it, figuratively speaking in the end, by way of not literally paying for it in the beginning.

As far as what I like/love, I'm right there with you regarding the drafting process. Has it been perfect? No, but what team's is? The batting average is what matters and Will McClay's bunch is Hall of Fame worthy when it comes to average, slugging and on-base percentage. This is why, to me, he's the most important free agent in the entire building, save for no one.

Tommy: I like how the front office has set their plan in terms of the guys they want to build around, and they've signed them accordingly. That being Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and likely Micah Parsons joining them this offseason. With that core healthy and playing their best football, the Cowboys can be contenders without a doubt because we've seen it in the past. Now, it's just a matter of getting over the hump, and that leads to my next point.

I'd like to see the front office be a bit more aggressive in the free agent market this offseason compared to last. I'm not saying go out and spend a ton of money, but find quality players at an affordable price that can enter supporting roles around your superstars and help you win.

Of course that's much easier said than done, but this group has also made some really good evaluations and is capable of doing so again this offseason.