As the Eagles prepare to make their second Super Bowl appearance in five seasons, their success has garnered the attention of Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.
Nick Sirianni, who is in his second season with the franchise, led the team to a 9-8 mark in ’21 before posting a 14-3 record this season on his way to a berth in Super Bowl LVII. This week, Jones visited Mobile, Ala., to watch draft prospects showcase their skills at the annual Senior Bowl.
During his visit, the Cowboys owner/general manager told reporters that the Eagles’ strategy of building their team aggressively—similar to the reigning Super Bowl-champion Rams—is great but presents a big risk. But while Jones isn’t afraid to take chances in constructing his roster, he said he prefers to think “long term.”
“I’m real hesitant to bet it all for a year,” Jones said. “There’s a lot of things that can happen for that year. … A couple of teams [Eagles and Rams] that have had some real success putting it all out there and paying for it later. Don’t think that doesn’t pop in my head and get my eye, as far as doing it, and I know how to do that.”
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In Jones’s perspective, it is “impressive” to see two teams “empty the bucket” on one season and compete for the Lombardi Trophy. However, Philadelphia hasn’t necessarily mortgaged its future. The Eagles have an extra first-round pick in the ’24 NFL draft, decent cap space and the ninth-youngest roster in the league.
But to Jones, if the deep dive into a singular season does not work, “it’s a long go.”
“My general experience has been that if you will stay aggressive, I’m talking whether it’s on the field or off the field, then you pick your shots with risk-taking, and I’ve spent a lot of time in my life doing that,” Jones added.
For now, Jones plans to continue making calculated risks when they best fit within the Cowboys organization, even if it means Dallas remains a middle-of-the-pack NFL franchise for a time.
“We have been in the middle here for a few years, but I like where we are right now,” Jones said. “… But given the opportunity, if it would make some sense, I’ve definitely got risk-taking in me.”
The Cowboys, who finished 12-5 in the 2022 season, lost for the seventh consecutive time in the divisional round of the playoffs. Dallas hasn’t reached the NFC championship game since the 1995 season, when it went on to win its most recent Super Bowl title.
