Cowboys' Stephen Jones goes off on 'all-in' narrative after Jerry Jones' comments

Dallas Cowboys CEO Stephen Jones has pushed back against the perception that the organization is just now "all in" on winning. His comments directly counter the narrative that emerged after his father, team owner Jerry Jones, previously used the term to describe the team's approach.

The younger Jones made these remarks during a conversation with Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer on Friday. This is just days after the Cowboys acquired former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens in a significant trade that cost Dallas a 2026 third-round draft pick.

"I don't buy into all that. Name one person that isn't all in," Stephen Jones said. "I'd hate the fans to hear their owner say that people aren't all in, when you're competing in the NFL … I mean, it's kind of a joke. Every year we line up, we're moving our chips in."

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The "all-in" debate stems from Jerry Jones using the term last season, creating expectations among fans and media that Dallas would make dramatic moves to improve its roster. Instead, the Cowboys' approach has been more measured, focusing on draft development and strategic acquisitions rather than splashy free agent signings.

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Stephen Jones wants to take advantage of the 2025 NFL draft picks

Stephen Jones explained that the front office's philosophy centered on maximizing their draft capital before pursuing veteran talent via trade.

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"We wanted to take advantage of our picks this year," Jones said. "Especially with those first three picks, we really didn't want to do anything with those, because we felt like we were going to get really good football players."

"And obviously when you're paying guys like Dak [Prescott] and CeeDee [Lamb], trying to pay Micah [Parsons], and [Trevon] Diggs and Osa [Odighizuwa], that plays into it. So we really didn't want to give up any one of our first three."

The Cowboys used their first-round selection (12th overall) on Alabama guard Tyler Booker rather than addressing their receiver needs early. They followed that by selecting Boston College pass rusher, Donovan Ezeiruaku, in the second round and East Carolina cornerback, Shavon Revel Jr., in the third. Only after securing those picks did they pursue Pickens.

Stephen Jones emphasized that this measured approach reflects their commitment to building a sustainable roster rather than making headline-grabbing moves. He pointed out that the Pickens acquisition wasn't a sudden shift in philosophy but part of a calculated plan that included waiting until after the draft.

The Cowboys faced mounting pressure to add another offensive weapon after a disappointing 7-10 season, in which they missed the playoffs. Their rivals in the NFC East have strengthened their rosters considerably.

The Eagles won the Super Bowl and the Commanders advanced further in the playoffs than Dallas has since 1995. So the ball is surely in the Cowboys' court.