Since Will McClay started having dominant influence on the draft in 2011, the Cowboys have been good at drafting in the first three rounds. Other than the Parcells years, The Cowboys were absolutely rudderless from 1995 to 2011 drafting regional players with name recognition.

Will McClay had a vision to build the league’s best offense line and a strong defense….which he did.

…..yet the Cowboys crumble badly early in the playoffs with no conference game appearance since 1996.
….in part because they don’t have depth on the team…the starters are burned out and/or injured come playoff time; in order to have depth you have to develop players picked after the third round, make good free agency trades, and have clear head coach team leadership authority.

In any other organization (other than Al Davis’ Raiders), Mr McClay would have been promoted to full GM in 2012 or so to handle the above responsibilities and secure a healthy Head Coach authority structure.

But, instead Jerry disrupts any semblance of a clear vision like a fly in the ointment. He makes bizarre, wild Glory Hole reaches in free agency (Trey Lance) wasting future draft picks….or he has overpaid older players he likes so they have no money left over to do anything on the free agent market.

So, the Cowboys can continue to draft well, but Jerry continues to hamstring the team creating an old, susceptible to injury and burnout by playoff time team with no gas in the tank or depth needed for playoff time. Stephen didn’t fall far from the tree; and the Cowboys will likely suffer another thirty years of Jones family meddling after Jerry is with Pam.