The Cowboys front office could be losing a man

The Cowboys front office could lose a man next year, and he is the most important man in the front office.

As all fans know, the front office isn’t the best, but a man with a say in the decisions is in the final year of his contract.

Other teams will take him at full strength, and the price will be in line with what general managers across the league make. That alone could cause the Jones family to tear up at the thought of paying.

With that in mind, let’s look at Will McClays’ track record and what it might cost to keep him.

Will McClay’s history with the Cowboys

McClay came to Dallas as a scout in 2003 and quickly rose to pro scouting coordinator in 2009. In 2011 he led the team as director of football research and in 2014 also took on the title of player director of human resources.

Although he may not hold the official title of general manager currently held by Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, McClay actually performs that role. His insights and expertise are not only respected; They are an integral part of the organization’s success in Dallas.

The 57-year-old is still running out of his current contract with the Cowboys this year. He’s committed to the Cowboys because his son is in high school in the Dallas area.

He said in an interview:

“I spoke to a few people, but I didn’t want to waste anyone’s time. I feel a commitment to being here – the commitment I have made to my son and the organization. I will continue with this. My contract runs for another year.”

Once his son graduates, the question of whether he stays with the Dallas Cowboys or moves to a team over which he would have complete control is no longer a certainty.

Will McClay has a fantastic track record drafting in Dallas.

In his first draft in 2014, McClay expertly led the Cowboys’ draft operation and secured guard Zack Martin, a player destined for the Hall of Fame. In a strategic move during the second round, Dallas traded to division rival Washington to acquire defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence.

McClay’s influence is evident in the elite talent he brought to Dallas, including standouts like quarterback Dak Prescott, pass rusher Micah Parsons, wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and cornerback Trevon Diggs.

Over the years, McClay has proven he can find talent in almost any draft round and undrafted free agents.

Eighty-six players were selected in ten drafts, resulting in an impressive record of 10 first-team All-Pro selections and 33 Pro Bowl selections.

Additionally, this record excludes undrafted free agents such as recently acquired return specialist KaVonte Turpin and kicker Brandon Aubrey, who also make significant contributions.

Contracts from GMs across the league

The general manager (GM) position in the NFL is volatile and most GMs earn between $3 and $5 million per year.

John Schneider of the Seattle Seahawks makes $3.75 million per year and Brian Getekunst of the Green Bay Packers makes $2.5 million per year.

If someone like Bill Belichick could pull double duty in New England, the salary range would be around $7.5 million.

Not many teams want to go the Belichick route, so that number is likely out of the question.

Many teams in the NFL wouldn’t hesitate to give Will McClay that amount.

So the Dallas Cowboys need to make between $3.5 and $4 million.

The Cowboys need Will McClay

Can fans imagine the Dallas Cowboys if Jerry and Stephen Jones had complete control of the staff without Will McClay around?

The result could be terrible. The scouting department in Dallas is excellent, but with Jerry and his son making all the decisions, there would be chaos.

Will McClay is like the conscience that Jerry Jones doesn’t have, and McClay has the respect of the Jones men.

It’s hard to imagine what a design would look like without this conscious presence in the war room. If he’s still around, poor Mike McCarthy would have to work with the current weekly flavor of Jerry Jones.

Fans know that Jerry Jones will never hire a real GM, so having someone who has the power but not the title is beneficial. Will McClay brings a calm and collected demeanor to an otherwise extravagant property.

The Dallas Cowboys need to match any offer Will McClay receives and maintain that continuity. If there are no good free agents coming in, the team will have to draft well.

McClay can do that and has proven in almost every draft that he is more than capable of finding diamonds in the rough.