FRISCO, Texas – One game remains for the Cowboys in the 2025, and owner/GM Jerry Jones has consistently emphasized how important it is to him and the organization that they finish strong.
At 7-8-1, the best Dallas can do is finish at 8-8-1, an improvement from last season but certainly not at all where they want to be, making for an important upcoming offseason with plenty of big decisions to be made.
Let's dive into what stood out from Jones' final weekly Tuesday radio show on 105.3 The Fan:
Where did Jones think the Cowboys missed on defensive personnel?
Across the board, the Cowboys' defense fell short of expectations across the board. Jones was asked if there was an area that he felt Dallas missed on from a personnel standpoint.
"Probably the one that I think was the most impactful is that we had a high expectation in our secondary, and I thought we would be good at all phases of it…" Jones said. "The secondary really had issues regarding personnel, time on the field, time at practice. We weren't ambitious, we knew some of those guys would be getting back [from injury]… I would say that's the area."
There was a lot of movement in and out of roles in the secondary this year due to injuries, players returning from major injuries, etc., which was a trend from last season as well. In 2026, the Cowboys certainly hope they can get some more continuity.
Dak will start Sunday, but how much will he play?
Jones reiterated that Dak Prescott will start in Week 18 for the Cowboys against the Giants. That said, he may not be the one to finish the game.
"How we use Dak, where we use him, those kinds of things, let's just make that a part of the game plan that we won't talk about." Jones said.
That means Joe Milton may have a good chance to get the most reps he's had during his time with the Cowboys, as the previous three games he's played in this season have only come later when games are already out of hand.
Analyzing the defensive breakdowns, and the future
One way or another, the Cowboys know that they're going to need change defensively in 2026 and beyond. What that looks like will be discussed as one of the principle points of emphasis this offseason.
"Make no mistake about it, everybody had their finger in what we did out there defensively. Everybody," Jones said. "And so it's not just a one man blame at all, and I say that because therein lies what you got to sit down and figure out if what, if anything, you want to change. We'll get to that pronto…"
"It is rare when you have one coach or one player that is the cause or the solution to the problem. And that's the main thing I'd like to emphasize. We're trying to solve the problem."
Jones ended his interview with a message for Cowboys fans.
"We will get better on defense. I promise you that." Jones said.
Use the first-round picks, or trade them?
In the upcoming NFL Draft, the Cowboys have two first round draft picks. One of their own, and one from Green Bay that was acquired in the Micah Parsons trade.
However, the Cowboys do not have any Day 2 picks and have plenty of needs across the roster. Does Jones think he'll hold on to both and pick, or will he look at trade options?
"I don't have any predetermined plan without a deal in front of you, and you want to always be able to take advantage of an opportunity…" Jones said. "There's a reason why draft picks this time of year become such a premium… I really like the way we've set the table."
Negotiations with George Pickens
The upcoming free agency of WR George Pickens will be one of the biggest talking points of the offseason, as Pickens earned his first Pro Bowl and has been everything that the Cowboys hoped he would be and then some.
Jones was asked if he expects to negotiate directly with Pickens this offseason, or if he'll also speak to his agent, David Mulugheta.
"I don't know. We'll see how it goes. Probably both, but I certainly expect to be speaking with George." Jones said.
