Mailbag: How can Cowboys manage cap better?

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

Jerry Jones said during Brian Schottenheimer's press conference, "We want to improve significantly how we are doing the cap." What do they need to do different? Can they have so much money tied up in a handful of players and still be successful? – Evan Marshall/Dallas, TX

Nick: As cliché as it might sound, teams can have the most success in the NFL by continually excelling in the draft. The reason teams have to look towards free agency is they need to fill some needs that weren't exactly fixed through the draft. The Cowboys have been successful with their picks for the most part, there has been a drop-off the past few seasons, especially with the last two first-round picks that haven't hit yet.

But the real reason the draft is the way to go, it gives you a chance to have cheap superstars. If you can hit on more of the DaRon Bland and Jake Ferguson types, that gives you Pro Bowl caliber players before they need long-term, high-priced contracts.

And your question about having a handful of players making most of the money – that's not unusual in this league. Where teams can get in trouble is not getting the bang for their buck in those guys after they sign.

When you look at the last few contract extensions over the past two years, who really has exceeded those expectations? CeeDee Lamb undoubtedly played up to his contract this year but Dak really didn't, even before the injury. Guys like Donovon Wilson, Terence Steele, Trevon Diggs and Malik Hooker all got extensions over the last two years and they haven't really taken that next step as well. So it's not about paying the players you've got, but the projection that they're going to continue to improve with the high-priced contracts they've received.

Patrik: One way is to do what I posed in my questions to the front office during Brian Schottenheimer's inaugural press conference. Taking accountability by looking in the mirror to find the mistakes is half of the equation, yes, but the Art of War dictates you should also see what strategies your enemies are deploying successfully against you and weaponize them against said enemy. The Eagles, for example, are perennially unconcerned about a "bill coming due", as were the Saints during the Drew Brees era, as are the Rams under Sean McVay, and those teams continued to find ways to appear and make runs in the postseason. Yes, it is true that restructures simply kick cans, but they're excellent tools when needed. Another way would be to change the overarching philosophy of (most times) landing contract extensions after the expiration of the deal.

By extending Micah Parsons in the next few weeks, as a hopeful example, they'd free up tens of millions of dollars in cap space they can use in this year's free agency. There are plenty of ways to massage the salary cap instead of allowing yourself to be beholden to the mere existence of it.