ESPN’s Bill Barnwell recently suggested bold offseason moves for NFL teams, and one of his most striking proposals involves the Dallas Cowboys.
Barnwell recommends the Cowboys offer Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson a groundbreaking five-year, $125 million deal to become their next head coach.
Unlimited Spending on Coaches
Barnwell highlights that while teams cannot bypass the salary cap or purchase draft picks, they can spend as much as they want on coaching staff, an often-neglected aspect of team building.
He explains, “Paying Johnson this much would be a significant investment and likely upset other teams in the league. But coaches, in general, are underpaid. This franchise is valued at over $10 billion by Forbes. If this works, Johnson will be a steal. If it doesn’t, the Cowboys won’t feel the financial hit.”
This proposal challenges the norm, as NFL coaches are often undervalued compared to their importance. For the Cowboys, a team with vast financial resources, such a move could redefine how franchises prioritize coaching talent.
A Transformative Offer
Johnson has been instrumental in the Lions’ offensive success, creating one of the league’s most dynamic units. Barnwell believes that if the Cowboys want to elevate their team, an offer of this scale would be a strategic gamble worth taking.
Whether the Cowboys act on this idea remains uncertain, but making such an offer could revolutionize the NFL coaching market for years to come.
