Outside of adding another top WR, everything has to be about run/stop the run!

[Cowboyny]

Offense ranks 31st in red zone efficiency, Defense ranks dead last. It's not about our passing offense, nor our pass defense is cause we can RUN the football or STOP the run what so ever:

-Dowdle has 1 rushing TD, Cowboys have just 4 which ranks dead last in the league!
-Cowboys defense has given up 21 rushing TD's, yes that's also dead last!

 

[BleedSilverandBlue]

Offense ranks 31st in red zone efficiency, Defense ranks dead last. It's not about our passing offense, nor our pass defense is cause we can RUN the football or STOP the run what so ever:

-Dowdle has 1 rushing TD, Cowboys have just 4 which ranks dead last in the league!
-Cowboys defense has given up 21 rushing TD's, yes that's also dead last!

You watch the great offenses this year and all of them do most of their damage in the red zone on the ground. Detroit, Philly, Cincinnati, all of them score on the ground nearly every game.

The rushing offense and defense is completely broken. If it gets fixed in the offseason and the Jones take it seriously, I actually think this team could rebound pretty hard.

 

[Cowboyny]

You watch the great offenses this year and all of them do most of their damage in the red zone on the ground. Detroit, Philly, Cincinnati, all of them score on the ground nearly every game.

The rushing offense and defense is completely broken. If it gets fixed in the offseason and the Jones take it seriously, I actually think this team could rebound pretty hard.

HAS to be the priority over everything else!

 

[darthseinfeld]

HAS to be the priority over everything else!

If we are in the 12 range, my 1-2 is Harmon, then Burden

 

[Mr_437]

Offense ranks 31st in red zone efficiency, Defense ranks dead last. It's not about our passing offense, nor our pass defense is cause we can RUN the football or STOP the run what so ever:

-Dowdle has 1 rushing TD, Cowboys have just 4 which ranks dead last in the league!
-Cowboys defense has given up 21 rushing TD's, yes that's also dead last!

So, you're on board with Jeanty in the 1st? Also, do you think another OL needs to be drafted at a premium?

 

[Cowboyny]

So, you're on board with Jeanty in the 1st? Also, do you think another OL needs to be drafted at a premium?

I could accept Jeanty outside the top 10 and would be open to taking another high offensive lineman. However, running back class is very deep and would like to see some of our young OL prospects perform next season before using another high pick at the position

 

[KingintheNorth]

What's sad/disappointing is that we have some nice pieces on D to build around but to the OP's point, none of them are interior defenders.

Micah Parsons, DaRon Bland, DeMarvion Overshown, and Trevon Diggs are all in their prime and VERY GOOD to GREAT players. But those 4 guys are great puzzle pieces to a great defense. Also, if reasonable I would try to bring back Tank. If he's looking for a big payday, I am prepared to wish him well.

The FO's free agency avoidance is less "strategy" and more about their own ineptness. The league has shown everyone that 1) you need to add talent in free agency if you want to compete for championships, 2) signing players at the last minute is a losing philosophy, and 3) you can navigate the salary cap to make the necessary moves.

Draft and sign two interior defenders. Sign Tedarrell Slaton (6-4/330) from Green Bay and draft Mason Graham (6-3/318) in the 1st round (if you can) and watch the immediate improvement. Mazi competes with and rotates with Slaton and you hope that motivates him to put forward the effort we occasionally see, all the time.

Trade one of the 5th round compensatory picks and Damon Clark to New England for Ja'Whaun Bentley 6-2/250, Age 28), especially if Belichick ends up being the HC. From a size point, we now have added some much-needed bulk at DT and MLB.

If the Vikings let Cameron Bynum hit the open market (6-0/200, Age 26) that's your big money signing. A former college CB, that guy is one of the most instinctive Safeties I have seen in the league. He is constantly exactly where he needs to be. If not, I would take a chance on Trevon Moehrig (6-1/202, Age 25). Will McClay was supposedly very high on the former TCU Safety, but he went one pick before the Cowboys selection and they had to take Kelvin Joseph.

Resources needed:
1st round pick (Graham)
One big money free agent signing (Bynum) - Jesse Bates received a 4-year $64m deal last off-season.
One reasonable money free agent signing (Slaton) - DJ Reader received 2-years, $27m from Detroit last off-season.
One trade for veteran (Bentley) $7M cap hit for 2025
More than anything, one competent Front Office.

Projected Defense:
LDE Chauncy Golston (if re-signed) competes with Marshawn Kneeland
LDT Tedarrell Slaton
RDT Mason Graham
RDE Micah Parsons
MLB Ja'Whaun Bentley
WLB DaMarvion Overshown
LCB Trevon Diggs
RCB DaRon Bland
NB Jourdan Lewis (hopefully re-signed)
SS Donovan Wilson competes with Juanyeh Thomas
FS Cameryn Bynum

 

[Cowboyny]

What's sad/disappointing is that we have some nice pieces on D to build around but to the OP's point, none of them are interior defenders.

Micah Parsons, DaRon Bland, DeMarvion Overshown, and Trevon Diggs are all in their prime and VERY GOOD to GREAT players. But those 4 guys are great puzzle pieces to a great defense. Also, if reasonable I would try to bring back Tank. If he's looking for a big payday, I am prepared to wish him well.

The FO's free agency avoidance is less "strategy" and more about their own ineptness. The league has shown everyone that 1) you need to add talent in free agency if you want to compete for championships, 2) signing players at the last minute is a losing philosophy, and 3) you can navigate the salary cap to make the necessary moves.

Draft and sign two interior defenders. Sign Tedarrell Slaton (6-4/330) from Green Bay and draft Mason Graham (6-3/318) in the 1st round (if you can) and watch the immediate improvement. Mazi competes with and rotates with Slaton and you hope that motivates him to put forward the effort we occasionally see, all the time.

Trade one of the 5th round compensatory picks and Damon Clark to New England for Ja'Whaun Bentley 6-2/250, Age 28), especially if Belichick ends up being the HC. From a size point, we now have added some much-needed bulk at DT and MLB.

If the Vikings let Cameron Bynum hit the open market (6-0/200, Age 26) that's your big money signing. A former college CB, that guy is one of the most instinctive Safeties I have seen in the league. He is constantly exactly where he needs to be. If not, I would take a chance on Trevon Moehrig (6-1/202, Age 25). Will McClay was supposedly very high on the former TCU Safety, but he went one pick before the Cowboys selection and they had to take Kelvin Joseph.

Resources needed:
1st round pick (Graham)
One big money free agent signing (Bynum) - Jesse Bates received a 4-year $64m deal last off-season.
One reasonable money free agent signing (Slaton) - DJ Reader received 2-years, $27m from Detroit last off-season.
One trade for veteran (Bentley) $7M cap hit for 2025
More than anything, one competent Front Office.

Projected Defense:
LDE Chauncy Golston (if re-signed) competes with Marshawn Kneeland
LDT Tedarrell Slaton
RDT Mason Graham
RDE Micah Parsons
MLB Ja'Whaun Bentley
WLB DaMarvion Overshown
LCB Trevon Diggs
RCB DaRon Bland
NB Jourdan Lewis (hopefully re-signed)
SS Donovan Wilson competes with Juanyeh Thomas
FS Cameryn Bynum

It's going to be a challenge fixing both sides of the football in just 1 offseason, even with the use of fa and the trade market. As for Defense:

-They have to make decisions of Osa, DLaw and Golston.
-Also, have to decide if they want to make either starting safety a June 1st release (Wilson/Hooker)
-Free agency will be about finding a starting DT and MLB. Then you look at adding another edge like Lawson/Fowler for the rotation. Add a safety if you moved on from either Starter.
-Draft priorities would be at DT, WR, RB.

 

[KingintheNorth]

It's going to be a challenge fixing both sides of the football in just 1 offseason, even with the use of fa and the trade market. As for Defense:

-They have to make decisions of Osa, DLaw and Golston.
-Also, have to decide if they want to make either starting safety a June 1st release (Wilson/Hooker)
-Free agency will be about finding a starting DT and MLB. Then you look at adding another edge like Lawson/Fowler for the rotation. Add a safety if you moved on from either Starter.
-Draft priorities would be at DT, WR, RB.

If DLaw wants to stay and has reasonable demands, he is our guy. He's still an effective player.


Golston is exactly the Front Office-patting-themselves-on-the-back re-signing the Jones love to make. I’d be pitting those two against each other. Whoever agrees first gets to stay.

I’m also okay losing both.

If I feel I have a realistic chance at Mason Graham in the draft (order will be known by then), I am prepared to let Osa walk. He’s so inconsistent and he hurts us in the run game (51.1 PFF grade)

Hooker must go. He looks so slow out there now. If Juanyeh didn't get hurt, I would have been ready to move on from Donovan as well. I think this team and fan base tend to overrate their own UDFA signings, but Juanyeh had no business going undrafted. He’s a special athlete.

The thing with adding guys like Lawson/Fowler is you can still do that when you add premium free agents. The Cowboys FO has convinced these last-minute signings of veterans looking for a home are just as good as March free agency. Again, all teams make these signings, but the Cowboys act like they are smarter than everyone.
2nd round, 3rd round, and those four 5th round picks, I am looking for 2 RBs and a WR for sure.

I also think this team signs Stephon Diggs. Hopefully not too high of a deal but that is a classic Jerry desperation signing.

 

[Cowboyny]

If DLaw wants to stay and has reasonable demands, he is our guy. He's still an effective player.


Golston is exactly the Front Office-patting-themselves-on-the-back re-signing the Jones love to make. I’d be pitting those two against each other. Whoever agrees first gets to stay.

I’m also okay losing both.

If I feel I have a realistic chance at Mason Graham in the draft (order will be known by then), I am prepared to let Osa walk. He’s so inconsistent and he hurts us in the run game (51.1 PFF grade)

Hooker must go. He looks so slow out there now. If Juanyeh didn't get hurt, I would have been ready to move on from Donovan as well. I think this team and fan base tend to overrate their own UDFA signings, but Juanyeh had no business going undrafted. He’s a special athlete.

The thing with adding guys like Lawson/Fowler is you can still do that when you add premium free agents. The Cowboys FO has convinced these last-minute signings of veterans looking for a home are just as good as March free agency. Again, all teams make these signings, but the Cowboys act like they are smarter than everyone.
2nd round, 3rd round, and those four 5th round picks, I am looking for 2 RBs and a WR for sure.

I also think this team signs Stephon Diggs. Hopefully not too high of a deal but that is a classic Jerry desperation signing.

Most on this board wants OSA back, I have been on the fence. He isn’t a difference maker at the position and as you just said struggles against the run.

I have no problem signing Diggs on a short term deal, if healthy. He isn’t the same receiver but still a quality secondary option. This would allow the team not to be forced to draft another high receiver for the time being.

There are some quality safety free agents and the class looks solid. Though, not sure they are going to admit they made a mistake.

A Lawson type signing would just be more than a depth signing. If DLaw returns, we get Sam Williams back playing for a contract and will still be developing Kneeland. This is also an area where we could draft as well

 

[big dog cowboy]

If the first two picks are DT's, I'm a happy man.

The running game can get fixed much easier. New HC, new OC, new OL coach, new running game scheme, add a RB1.

 

[gtb1943]

Get a good WR in FA; draft a monster DT in the first; maybe trade down if possible and pickup another second rd pick. Late FIrst through beginning of third is where this draft is the strongest. GET a stud RB and frankly I would be happy with another DL.

IF we play our cards right we could get as many as four real upgrades from the draft; and a WR and maybe a LB in FA.

IF we are truly looking at going for a Ring, it will take another offseason to finish the job.

 

[Cowboyny]

Get a good WR in FA; draft a monster DT in the first; maybe trade down if possible and pickup another second rd pick. Late FIrst through beginning of third is where this draft is the strongest. GET a stud RB and frankly I would be happy with another DL.

IF we play our cards right we could get as many as four real upgrades from the draft; and a WR and maybe a LB in FA.

IF we are truly looking at going for a Ring, it will take another offseason to finish the job.

Yes, this isn’t going to take just 1 good offseason. Fix the trenches, then the rest is much easier to fill

 

[chicago JK]

I agree. Although that first pick should be a guy who is going to be one of your top 10 players for the next 5-6 years. Hopefully it is a position of need.

It is just so frustrating though. This was the exact thing we all said all offseason. Not only did they lose talent at these positions their answer was Zeke and two cut down guys at the end of camp. Just GM malpractice.