Bill Barnwell of ESPN recently proposed several radical offseason moves for NFL teams, and one of his more intriguing ideas concerns the Dallas Cowboys. Barnwell believes the Cowboys should offer Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson an eye-watering five-year, $125 million contract to become their next head coach.

Barnwell contends that, while the Cowboys cannot circumvent the salary cap or purchase first-round picks, they may spend infinite sums on coaches, an area that is frequently overlooked in the NFL.

He writes, “Paying Johnson this much would represent a significant investment and probably make every other team in the league angry. But coaches as a whole are underpaid. This franchise is valued as being worth more than $10 billion by Forbes. If this move succeeds, Johnson would be a bargain. If it fails, the Cowboys won’t miss the money.”

This approach stands in stark contrast to the norm, where many NFL coaches are underpaid relative to their value. For the Cowboys, an organization with massive resources, this kind of investment could signal a shift in how teams value coaching talent.

Johnson has been pivotal to the Lions’ offense, leading one of the most dynamic units in the NFL. His success with Detroit has caught the attention of many, including Barnwell, who believes that if the Cowboys want to take their team to the next level, offering Johnson a deal of this magnitude would be a smart move.

While it remains to be seen whether the Cowboys will pursue Johnson, if they make an offer like this, it could change the landscape of the NFL coaching market for years to come.