As the Dallas Cowboys stunned fans with their surprising pick of Alabama guard Tyler Booker at No. 12, one familiar face weighed in with a tone that was hard to ignore. Former head coach Mike McCarthy may no longer be running the show in Dallas, but his presence was still felt as the team continued its puzzling offseason strategy.

McCarthy made a guest appearance on Pat McAfee’s 2025 Draft Spectacular, where he was asked on the livestream if he held any resentment toward the organization after his January exit. His response was polite, professional—and quietly telling:

“No, not at all. I loved my time in Dallas. I’m actually getting to enjoy the city the last couple of months. Great city. Phenomenal organization. Cannot say enough about Jerry and Eugenia and the Jones family … I’m a better man today than I was when I went to Dallas.”

Respectful? Yes. But with the way Dallas has handled its roster and draft capital, McCarthy’s absence feels a little louder than anything he said.

The Cowboys’ draft-day reach makes Mike McCarthy’s exit feel even more justified

The Cowboys selected Booker—a projected late first-rounder—despite glaring needs at receiver and cornerback, and despite passing on players like Matthew Golden and Jalon Walker. It was a move that felt detached from urgency. Detached from value. And maybe detached from reality.

McCarthy parted ways with the Cowboys in January after five seasons, largely due to a slightly ridiculous contract standoff with Jerry Jones. McCarthy wanted a five-year deal. Jones offered three. Neither side budged. Behind the scenes, whispers of frustration over assistant coaching budgets and front office control had been building.

Now, watching Dallas double down on questionable roster-building while bypassing premium talent at premium positions, it’s fair to wonder if McCarthy saw all of this coming. He never bashed the team publicly—but he didn’t need to.

The Booker pick feels like another chapter in a trend that ultimately pushed McCarthy out: a disconnect between long-term vision and short-term decisions. He may be gone, but on a night like this, it’s hard not to think McCarthy’s departure was less about money—and more about clarity.