The Dallas Cowboys have not been a successful team for years.
In owner Jerry Jones‘ mind, success is winning Super Bowls, and the Cowboys have not done that since the days of the Hall of Fame triplets, Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, and Michael Irvin.
You can make the argument that some of the problems with the Cowboys have to do with the business side of football, namely overpaying people and not managing the free agency and draft process well.
Another valid argument is that the owner of the team should not be the general manager; however, Jones insists upon wearing multiple hats in the organization so that culture change is not imminent.
With that being said, here are two overpaid Cowboys on the roster who are holding the team back from acquiring other talent at key positions because of salary cap and other related issues.
1. Dak Prescott, Quarterback
Let me preface this by saying that Dak Prescott is a good player, and he deserved a long-term contract.
However, Jones and the Cowboys mismanaged this to the point that he ended up being overpaid.
Applying the franchise tag to him for the 2020 season was not a prudent move when all indications were that he was going to get a long-term deal.
It delayed the inevitable and ended up costing the Cowboys more than perhaps it would have.
Prescott signed a four-year, $160 million deal that keeps him with the Cowboys until 2025.
He received an enormous $66 million signing bonus to boot.
According to @Forbes Dak Prescott is now the 4th highest paid athlete in the world.
At least until another QB gets signed. 🤷🏼♂️ #DallasCowboys pic.twitter.com/EKo56dUKIS
— Cowboys Nation (@CowboyNationDAL) May 19, 2021
Prescott is the second-highest paid quarterback in the NFL behind Patrick Mahomes.
At 25, Mahomes has appeared in two Super Bowls and won one of them.
He has also earned individual honors as Super Bowl MVP (2019) and NFL MVP (2018).
Prescott is 27 and though a good player has not accomplished anything close to what Mahomes has already done.
2. Ezekiel Elliott, Running Back
Ezekiel Elliott is also a good player that deserved a long-term deal, but his production has dwindled and the fumbles are a persisting problem.
He is entering the third year of a six-year, $90 million deal.
Besides that, the Cowboys have Tony Pollard who is two years younger and fresher.
Should Tony Pollard – #Cowboys' 'Most Underrated' – Take Some Ezekiel Elliott Carries? https://t.co/HmXvWVx9jC
— fishsports (@fishsports) May 18, 2021
Zeke’s best season statistically was his rookie year, 2016, where he rushed for over 1,600 yards and 15 touchdowns.
2020 was his least productive with 979 yards and six touchdowns.
Ideal Window To Win
Colin Cowherd regularly talks about the ideal time for franchises to win Super Bowls.
It is when the players are young and are still playing under their rookie contracts.
At that time, the team can invest necessary dollars in less glamorous but equally vital positions like offensive and defensive linemen.
Putting an organization’s big money in two players limits the pool of money for the other positions, and if the big money players have an off season, the team is not going to win.
There are teams (2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers) that can win with a veteran roster, but in those cases, the players took less money to play for the team and/or have one year contracts.
All of this spells trouble for the Cowboys who are trying to turn the tide and contend for Super Bowls.
NEXT: 2 Dallas Cowboys Who Can Win NFL MVP In 2021