Jumbo075
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 3,045
- Reaction score
- 7,542
OFFENSE
DEFENSE
Summary - LB and CB are the top needs on the defense, with DT still being a question mark.
Special Teams - the Cowboys may have the best Punter/Kicker combination in the NFL with Anger and Aubrey. Along with Turpin as the primary returner, the Cowboys look good. They will lose some key role players on coverage teams, so it will be a work in progress for that.
- QB - no needs. Big question is if Rush will stay with the Cowboys, or if Lance will be the back-up in 2024.
- RB - Seems like a priority need to me. Pollard hasn't been the same in the primary role as he was as the change of pace back.
- FB - no needs
- TE - no needs. Schoonmaker and Ferguson should only keep improving as a tandem, and Stephens will likely beat out Hendershot. McKeon stays as the 4th TE who will likely start the year on the practice squad like he did this season.
- WR - no needs at this time. Cooks is signed to another year, and the Cowboys will likely sign Lamb to a long-term deal. Gallup's contract is a problem, and Tolbert has looked just as good as Gallup this season, for a much lower cost. Turpin has really replaced Gallup as a producer. And rookie Brooks has shined in his limited opportunities.
- OT - this one is complicated. The Cowboys just signed Steele to a long-term deal at RT, and they have a couple of draft picks and young players they are developing. Also, they can still slide Tyler Smith to LT, which would make Guard a bigger need. With how Tyron Smith has played this season, it is likely they sign him to another one year deal, with injury clauses to protect the team, but allows Tyron to still get paid if he performs well. I also like Asim Richards performance, and the Cowboys could bring back Chuma Edoga for depth, also. So, I'm going to say that there is currently no need at OT.
- OG - Despite the Cowboys having a couple of rookies, I think drafting a future OG is a big long-term need. However, it may not be an immediate need in 2024 if both Martin and Tyron Smith stick around another season. Josh Ball is on IR, and he seemed to be developing at Guard, and the Cowboys like TJ Bass. Also, Chuma Edoga can back-up everywhere except Center.
- OC - With Tyler Biadasz in the final year of his rookie contract, and with him not being a great anchor in the middle of the Oline, the Cowboys could be looking for an upgrade in the pivot. They could surprise people, letting Biadasz walk, and looking to the draft to replace him. However, the franchise tag for a center is pretty inexpensive, and it could be in their plans to put the tag on Biadasz to keep him around for 2024. Regardless, the depth at center is suspect at best. Are the Cowboys going to continue to cross train T.J. Bass at Center? I don't know. I would be surprised if the Cowboys don't spend at least a mid-round pick on a center in 2024, if not higher.
DEFENSE
- DE - the Cowboys are stacked at DE. No needs. But resigning Armstrong to another extension would be good for the Cowboys. Sam Williams needs to start earning his pay in 2024.
- DT - Hankins is long in the tooth. The Cowboys will likely not resign Gallimore. Odighizuwa is entrenched at one of the DT positions, and based on is draft status, the Cowboys will be expecting a lot from Mazi Smith in his 2nd year. I expect the Cowboys to resign Hankins next season, and they will continue with their current rotation, but add Viliami Fehoko to the mix at 3-tech, replacing Gallimore in the rotation. Golston may or may not make the cut.
- LB - huge need at LB for a big talent in the middle of the defense. Also depth is very suspect. The Cowboys may move on from Vander Esch and his injury history. Clark is decent, but not great, and Bell is way undersized. Getting Overshown back next year will be good, but he's more in the mold of Bell, who could be moved back to safety next season.
- CB - the Cowboys need a nickel back to pair with Bland and Diggs. Or they need an outside corner, and let Bland move back inside. Resigning Gilmore is likely something the Cowboys will try to do, but who knows if they'll be successful. After his performance this year, Gilmore is likely to have more than a few suitors for his services, and he's at the stage in his career when money will be the big deciding factor. This is likely Jourdan Lewis' last year for the Cowboys, and Wright has been a bust. We'll see if Eric Scott proves to be what the Cowboys hoped for when they traded up to draft him last Spring.
- Safety - the Cowboys are set at safety with Wilson and Hooker signed to long-term deals. Juanyeh Thomas is a third player, and Bell could be moved back also. This is likely the last season for Kearse. The Cowboys have no big needs at safety.
Summary - LB and CB are the top needs on the defense, with DT still being a question mark.
Special Teams - the Cowboys may have the best Punter/Kicker combination in the NFL with Anger and Aubrey. Along with Turpin as the primary returner, the Cowboys look good. They will lose some key role players on coverage teams, so it will be a work in progress for that.
