Dallas Cowboys executive vice president of player personnel Will McClay enters this offseason with a familiar assignment: help shape a roster capable of sustaining regular-season success while pushing deeper into the playoffs. Working alongside owner and general manager Jerry Jones and head coach Mike McCarthy, McClay’s role centers on evaluating the current roster, identifying areas that need reinforcement and building a strategy for the draft and the broader player-acquisition period.
McClay’s approach is rooted in a long-term view of roster construction. Rather than focusing solely on short-term fixes, he places emphasis on adding players who can contribute over multiple seasons. That begins with a detailed assessment of the team’s own personnel. Before looking outside the building, the Cowboys’ front office studies internal options, including emerging contributors, pending free agents and players returning from injury. The goal is to determine where the roster already has answers and where it needs an infusion of talent, competition or depth.
From there, McClay helps align scouting evaluations with the coaching staff’s vision. Position coaches and coordinators define the traits they value in specific roles, and the personnel department grades draft prospects and other available players against those standards. McClay’s background in both scouting and coaching allows him to translate scheme requirements into clear profiles for each position. That collaboration is meant to ensure that new additions fit not only athletically, but also in terms of football intelligence, versatility and locker-room presence.
As the Cowboys prepare for the draft, McClay oversees a process that includes film study, analytics, live scouting, interviews and medical evaluations. The team builds its draft board with the intent of balancing best-player-available principles with positional priorities. McClay’s group studies how prospects might develop over time, how they complement established players and how they fit within the broader salary structure. The Cowboys’ decision-makers weigh whether a rookie can contribute immediately on offense, defense or special teams, while also projecting future roles as veterans age or contracts expire.
Another key piece of McClay’s work is understanding the overall talent market. Even though public details of the Cowboys’ specific plans are not disclosed, the personnel department continually monitors other rosters, potential cap casualties and players who may become available through trades. That information helps Dallas compare external options to what it might find in the draft. When the club believes a particular position can be addressed effectively with a draft pick, it may be more selective in pursuing veteran help. Conversely, if the draft appears thin at a position of need, the team may look more closely at experienced players who can step in quickly.
Communication with Jerry Jones is a constant part of the process. As general manager, Jones makes the final decisions, but McClay and the scouting staff provide the evaluations and recommendations that shape those choices. They present different scenarios, such as the impact of trading up or down in the draft, or how adding a certain type of player could alter the roster in both the short and long term. The objective is to give ownership a clear picture of the risks and rewards attached to each move.
McClay’s focus also includes maintaining a strong core around Dallas’ established stars. He and his staff work to identify players who can complement key positions on the roster, whether by protecting the quarterback, supporting the run game, stabilizing the secondary or bolstering special teams. Depth is a recurring theme: injuries and long seasons test every roster, so the personnel group aims to ensure that the Cowboys have capable options beyond the top line of the depth chart.
While specific target names and contract plans are not public, McClay’s guiding principles are consistent: evaluate thoroughly, emphasize fit and long-term value, and build a roster that can withstand the demands of a full NFL season. As the offseason progresses, his evaluations and recommendations will help shape how Dallas uses the draft and other avenues to strengthen its lineup and pursue sustained success in the seasons ahead.
