Dallas Cowboys Prediction: From 12-5 To No Playoffs Due to NFL Free Agency?

The Dallas Cowboys were thought to be close to having a Super Bowl-caliber roster, but with several departures and only one new signing, the franchise has been named as one of six teams that made the playoffs last season to miss in 2024.

Jan 14, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) walks off the field / Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

After the Dallas Cowboys' approach to free agency, picking the franchise to miss the 2024 playoffs is perhaps low-hanging fruit right now.

As Dak Prescott and coach Mike McCarthy join the long list of lame-duck personnel for the 2024 season, the Cowboys roster has been significantly weakened over the last couple of weeks.

Several starters on both sides of the ball, coupled with multiple rotational pieces have been allowed to walk out the door. Only linebacker Eric Kendricks has come back the other way.

As such, CBS Sports has listed the Cowboys as one of six teams that made the playoffs in 2023 that could miss out completely in 2024.

"They've still got elite play-makers on both sides of the ball, but Jerry Jones is all but forcing his quarterback-head coach duo into an ultimatum season, with Dak Prescott and Mike McCarthy under pressure to make a deep run," CBS Sports writes. "Meanwhile Prescott's O-line has real questions, the defense has new management, and they've not upgraded skill spots."

While the Cowboys haven't been as "all-in" as the fans would have hoped after Jerry Jones' comments, the roster still has firepower.

Dak in his second season in McCarthy's offense that saw him finish second in MVP voting and CeeDee Lamb, who exploded last year into a top-five receiver are likely tasked with leading the offense.

Jan 14, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) walks off the field / Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

While defensively, new coordinator Mike Zimmer has Micah Parsons, DeMarcus Lawrence, DaRon Bland Trevon Diggs as the nucleus that he can build around.

But are the players mentioned above enough for Dallas to secure a playoff spot? Right now, suggesting that the Cowboys will be a playoff team isn't the surest bet. However, they "should" be, right?

Of course, Dallas' 2024 trajectory could depend on its draft haul, along with the second-year leaps of players like Mazi Smith, Luke Schoonmaker, DeMarvion Overshown, Viliami Fehoko, Asim Richards, and Deuce Vaughn. But putting all your hopes in that draft class and saving the 2024 season is not ideal.

But that is where the Cowboys find themselves due to their approach in free agency.

The roster has been significantly weakened, along with Prescott and McCarthy both fighting for their jobs in 2024, playoffs have to be a minimum requirement to keep the wolves at bay.

However right now, the Cowboys don't look like a team that is guaranteed a playoff spot in 2024.