Overall I completely agree with you Bob.
And I've been a vocal critic of of our culture of non accountability, primarily in the front office.
I still believe that is what will keep us a long ways from another SB title.
I've also been a critic of our off season.
I felt there was a path to keep this team, and add some missing pieces, that would have put in in a strong position.
I did, however, just run a mock draft.
In the first I am leaning heavily to OL. I was hoping to trade back here, and pick up another Day 2 pick, as I feel there is so much OL depth in this draft that we could get a starter in Rd 2 and pick up that additional pick.
No trades presented themselves, so I grabbed JPJ at 24. Great prospect at a huge positional need. I hope he's there.
I traded back at 56 to 64 and picked up 95, at 64 I grabbed X Legette, WR, and then in the 3rd, at 87 and 95 I nabbed Braelon Allen and McKinley Jackson. I moved my 5th and a 2025 5th to jump into Rd 4 and got Tommie Eichenberg.
I was very happy with that haul. JPJ, Legette, Allen, Jackson, Eichenberg.
On Offense:
We lost Tyron and Tyler B. I think JPJ can be Tyler B level in his first year, though with a higher ceiling. To me he looks to follow in the footsteps of a few recent draft picks I really liked, Creed Humphrey and Tyler Linderbaum. If he does, we got a great player and probably improved on Tyler B (and I was always a Tyler B fan BTW).
I hated to see Tyron go. One of my fav Cowboys ever, but seriously, we've been needed to move on from him for years now. I see Tyler Smith sliding over to LT. Probably not quite as good as Tyron in pass protection, but much better at run blocking. Then I am high on TJ Bass, and see him sliding in at LG. Again, we lose in pass protection but that left side could be special in the run game.
Essentially Tyler B and Tyron out, JPJ and Bass in. Upgrade in the run game, which I think is really important. We need to be able to run the ball at critical times.
On the right side let's hope Zach and Steele return to 2022 form, and that last years setbacks were temporary (Zach's holdout and Steele's injury recovery). Potentially, we could have a big improvement in the run game, and that will help the pass game too.
At WR, we replace Gallup with Legette. I am really high on Legette. He reminds me of Deebo, and could become that type of weapon. He's big and strong, and we lack that at WR. A lot of West coast offenses have that big WR, the guy who can catch that 4 years quick slant on 3rd and 4 at a critical point in the game. I see Legette giving us that, and I see the him as a huge potential upgrade to Gallup for us.
At RB, I liked Pollard. I just think we used him wrong at times. Allen could be special. He's huge, and powerful, and fast. Not saying he's a better player than Pollard, who is very good, but for our needs, he MAY be the better fit. So again, just based on fit, this could turn into an upgrade.
Overall on Offense, I could see the offense being better, just because we can run the ball better.
We may get less yards and points, but we will have better balance, and that is a huge win for Dak (not asking so much from him), and for the Defense, as the O will be chewing up more clock. I think we may see some growing pains early, but by mid season, we could really be a better and more balanced Offense than last years. And running the ball will be a huge help to the defense too.
On D I added Jackson and Eichenberg in the draft.
I potentially like our LB and S rooms.
I see Kendricks, Clark, Overshown and Eichenberg, then Wilson, Hooker, Thomas and Mukuamu, with Bell being sort of a 5th LB and 5th S. I like that depth.
At CB, we have Bland, Diggs and Lewis starting, very solid, then Wright, Scott, Goodwyn and handful of late round picks, UFA's etc.
Great starters, questionable depth. I wouldn't mind using a Day 3 pick or even signing a value FA here as a reserve.
DL is the issue now IMO. We really need one more player at both Edge and DT, even with the Jackson addition.
I like Mazi and Jackson at 1, then Osa needs a partner at 3. We need more depth. Gholston is just a depth guy, unless he can really step up this year.
At edge, we have Micah and Tank, with Williams and Fehoko. We need another rotational player IMO. A Fowler type, maybe a proven vet at a good price who gets cut after the draft.
We have the ability to free up significant space (by restructuring a few contracts), without touching Dak or Tank (giving us more space and freedom next off season)
My thinking is there is always a round of releases after the draft.
If we could get rotational pieces at DT and Edge, and possibll at CB, I feel our D would be solid (and quite deep).
And I can't stree enough how much a great running game can help the D.
So, while I'm very disappointed in the off season so far, and the front office in general, a great draft, plus some key value FA signings, could still make this team pretty competitive, possibly a better team than last years team, and with the financial ship in order for the future.
I'm hopeful.