Dallas Cowboys vice president of player personnel Will McClay stands as one of the most coveted talent evaluators in the league and could be drawn to one of the current openings this offseason.
Outside interest is nothing new for McClay, who is entering his 22nd year with the Cowboys’ organization, because of his reputation for identifying talent. What might not be a typical resume line in most professions has drawn the Dallas personnel man great praise and respect in NFL circles. His voice is the one demonstrative Cowboys’ owner Jerry Jones listens to on most draft and free agency decisions.
But the Cowboys’ general manager title also belongs to Jones, while McClay began overseeing the draft in 2014.
The Carolina Panthers and Washington Commanders are trying to squeeze to the front of the line to discuss jobs with McClay. The Commanders are waving significant authority, which could include the title of executive vice president. With the Cowboys, that title belongs to Jones’ son, Stephen.
Dallas was able to block the exits in recent years to keep McClay. Two years ago, in January 2022, he signed a new contract and celebrated his 20-year anniversary with the team with Jones and head coach Mike McCarthy admitting they were doing everything in their power to prevent other franchises from swiping McClay.
“He’s obviously someone that I know as an organization we would not want to lose,” McCarthy said at the time. “But he’s definitely worthy of any opportunity that pursues him. Will does a tremendous job.”
McClay has gone as far as interviewing outside the building for openings but repeatedly found his way back to the Dallas front office, where he was first hired as a scout in 2002.
McClay’s legend at The Star is massive with coaches and players alike. He was known to keep the loudest drumbeat in the room for some of the team’s biggest hits in the draft, including 2020 second-round pick Trevon Diggs (51st overall with a first-round grade from McClay) and 2022 fifth-round pick DaRon Bland at the position McClay said is the most difficult to evaluate outside of quarterback — cornerback.
He should know.
McClay played quarterback in high school in Houston, winning three state titles, and even with more prestigious offers on the table from the likes of Nebraska and Boston College, he chose family. He was recruited to Rice by former Cowboys defensive coordinator Mike Nolan, and he ultimately settled there to allow his parents to attend his games. And he switched to defensive back.
Where McClay, 57, winds up for the 2024 season and beyond likely doesn’t rest on salary, title or the perception of control such as “final say” on the roster.
During the post-draft press conference at The Star last April, McClay said his values are faith, family — McClay has a teenage son — and football.
“Titles don’t mean anything to me,” McClay said. “Really, the responsibility, it’s the place that you work, it’s the people you’re around. It’s what you’re trying to accomplish that’s the most important thing. You talk about a title, a lot of people got titles and don’t mean anything.”
With the Cowboys, Jerry Jones holds the general manager title, but McClay’s sway in the scouting department is unquestioned. Being named GM hasn’t been an option in Dallas for McClay. Even so, it’s unlikely given his comments on the structure that Jerry Jones or executive VP Stephen Jones has much interest in forfeiting their titles. In 2014, Jerry Jones said the only situation in which he would hire a GM would be “If I for sure knew he would win a Super Bowl.”
“My thoughts have always been: I’ll have people around me that are as close to being competent, have Super Bowl type ideas and can get you to that,” Jones said at the time. “I’ll have them and I’ll listen. And I have and I have listened all the time. But I don’t want to create some fake point.”
