Mailbag: Change in free agency philosophy?

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

For the last two decades, the Cowboys have almost always believed in building through the draft, keeping homegrown talent and signing free agents as fillers. Now it seems like they've decided to be very aggressive in free agency. What has caused the change in philosophy? – Michael Shafer/*Sparks*, NV

Patrik: Time, and rather the realization that they're running out of it. One of, if not the, biggest regret for Jerry Jones is Tony Romo not winning a Super Bowl. As Dak Prescott approaches his 11th year in the league, Jones would rather that list of biggest regrets remain at just one. Prescott is still in his prime, but for how long?

There's also the matter of, in my opinion, finally realizing that it's time for a change in how things are viewed regarding building a roster. I still believe they love the draft, but they've also seen teams like the Eagles and Rams sell their future to win now, and it worked. So how much longer can the Cowboys deny the formula in the face of theirs — leaning too heavily on the draft and not at all enough on free agency and blockbuster trades??

So, to me, this is all stemming from a revelation that time is not on their side

Nick: Well, I don't think the Cowboys have changed their philosophy of building through the draft. They're still with that mindset that you draft and develop and try to re-sign their own, young players, rather than overpay for free agents with other teams.

But I think the change we've seen is that other teams, particularly the Rams, are winning with that style of play. And Jerry Jones definitely noticed, as he pointed out in the opening press conference of training camp. Yes, it's always been a "copycat" league so in recent years, when teams are finding Super Bowl success from the hired guns of free agency, everyone has to take notice.

The Cowboys see that and this year, they've done something about it. But it's also easier to change your stance somewhat when you put out one of the worst defenses in NFL history. There's no way any team could come back the next year and not try to flip the script.

So all that said, the Cowboys have definitely shown more aggression this year. I think knowing the offense was pretty good but the defense needed so much work, it forced the Cowboys to be more active because they couldn't just rely on the draft alone to fix it in one year.