Did the Cowboys Get Better or Worse After This Draft?

[KJJ]

We’ll find out when the season starts but on paper we look worse. Unless some players really step up we’ll struggle to win 9-10 games.

 

[Aerolithe_Lion]

You can count subtracting players like Cooper, Collins, Wilson, Turner, et al.

I'm asking you if we're better or worse after the draft, including after the free agent moves we've made compared to last year.

I think we'll be a little better on offense, mostly because of Smith, and Tolbert.

And I think Sam Williams will make the defense in the top 5, especially if we solidify our LB and secondary positions. The more I look at this line, and the guys coming back from last year the more I like the defense.

Cowboys were 19th in D in 2021. You believe swapping Randy Gregory for Sam Williams moves them up 14 spots in his rookie year?

 

[JBS]

Looking at each position where there is change:

***WR - lost Cooper and Wilson. I think the WR position will be fine once Gallup is back. IMO, Tolbert is going to be a very viable part of the WR corps. He’s going to help and he’ll do it from game one.

Lamb
Gallup
Tolbert
Washington
Brown

That group should be more than fine. I think that TE will be better than last season and they’ll add some receptions to help the offense as well.

The one caveat is until Gallup is back. He is very good and will be missed early on.

***LG - I think that Tyler Smith is going to be better than Williams was. Much better. He will have some growing pains but his overall play will be a big improvement over what was at LG last year.

***RT - Last year the OL played better with Steele in there than with Collins. La’el is more talented than Steele, but he doesn’t care as much (IMO), isn’t as reliable and isn’t as focused or mentally tough as Steele is. If Steele plays better than Collins, does it matter if he isn’t quite as talented?

***RDE - Gregory was the only one of this group that I didn’t want to lose but I feel like Williams, along with Armstrong and Fowler will easily replace what Gregory gave the defense. I think there is a chance that that group could be significantly better than What Randy gave us. IMO there is a chance that Williams alone might provide more pressure on the QB, all by himself. He has a very high ceiling. Throw in the amount of money that Gregory would have cost and it makes the new group look even better.

So, I guess I feel like we will be okay at all of those spots. Smith, Tolbert and Williams all have a ton of room to grow as the season moves on and I think they’ll be something that is among the most valuable assets in the NFL: productive players making rookie wages.

I just don’t see where the team is really going to be hurt by replacing those players. We’ve already seen Steele at RT and he’s fine. The other’s, IMO, are going to be fine as well.

Also, don’t forget the mental part of replacing those guys with guys who play aggressive, tough football and love to play. Effort, reliability, toughness… all of those matter more than people realize.

This doesn’t mean that the team will win it all… but I don’t think losing all those players means that they won’t.

this is a very optimistic outlook. I’m not suggesting you aren’t right but a lot has to happen for it to play out this way. One can easily make a case on the other end of the extreme that the team is worse in every position where there was change. At the end of the day, this team is going to go as Dak goes. Dak needs to take his game to the next level for this team to be better. Dak wasn’t at his best at the end of last season so being better than that should be doable. But there are concerns. The OL, the offensive coaching staff, and their refusal to get Pollard involved more are my main concerns.

 

[Pass2Run]

Cowboys were 19th in D in 2021. You believe swapping Randy Gregory for Sam Williams moves them up 14 spots in his rookie year?

I believe it's the addition of Sam Williams and players like Cox coming back, LVE getting over his weird envy of Parsons and returning to form. I think Joseph can really be a force against the run if he wins the spot at CB. And I think our middle of the dline guys should all be better.

Also, we have guys in the secondary who could really step up, several guys there. Doron Bland, Mukuamu, etc. Don't forget Malik Hooker is coming into his own as well.

I also look at Gregory for Williams, Fowler and now possibly Takk, so that would make 3 guys for 1 Randy Gregory. See how I get my math now?

Dan Quinn works magic, too. I see him subtly and quietly putting together a sick defense.

I'm not trying to argue, and be crappy with my reply. I'm just telling you where I'm coming from and why.

 

[Bullflop]

I hoping as intensely as I can possibly hope that we'll manage to secure 10 wins by the time this season ends. I think this team and Philly will duke it out quite intensely as this season wears on. As always, here's hoping the good guys win out in the end. That'd be the C'boys, of course!

 

[cowboyec]

we'll know by play-off time but i think they got better...i like the additions of tyler smith...sam williams...jalen tolbert.
daron bland is making some noise early.
i like ridgeway and ferguson.
i think they will make us better...tougher.

 

[Pass2Run]

this is a very optimistic outlook. I’m not suggesting you aren’t right but a lot has to happen for it to play out this way. One can easily make a case on the other end of the extreme that the team is worse in every position where there was change. At the end of the day, this team is going to go as Dak goes. Dak needs to take his game to the next level for this team to be better. Dak wasn’t at his best at the end of last season so being better than that should be doable. But there are concerns. The OL, the offensive coaching staff, and their refusal to get Pollard involved more are my main concerns.

They literally almost have this team set up so almost any QB can run it.

Dak is obviously the best guy for the job on the Cowboys now. But a dozen or so guys in the NFL could likely work well with this team.

 

[JBS]

They literally almost have this team set up so almost any QB can run it.

Dak is obviously the best guy for the job on the Cowboys now. But a dozen or so guys in the NFL could likely work well with this team.

how do you figure? The staff sucks. The OL isn’t very good. They use the wrong running back. There are decent weapons in the pass game but they’re worse there than they were

 

[AsthmaField]

this is a very optimistic outlook. I’m not suggesting you aren’t right but a lot has to happen for it to play out this way. One can easily make a case on the other end of the extreme that the team is worse in every position where there was change. At the end of the day, this team is going to go as Dak goes. Dak needs to take his game to the next level for this team to be better. Dak wasn’t at his best at the end of last season so being better than that should be doable. But there are concerns. The OL, the offensive coaching staff, and their refusal to get Pollard involved more are my main concerns.

You’re right… it will go as Dak goes.

But as far as those positions and the replacements, that is honestly how I think it will go, optimistic or not. Of course, I could be wrong about some or all of that, but honestly, that is how I feel when I break it down.

We will have to wait and see how it goes. I hope I’m right.

But like you mentioned, there are plenty of other concerns that could make or break the season. I could be right about all of those positions and still see the team fall short of last year’s record.

But I do like the changes they’ve made at those positions and I like who they brought in to fill the voids.

 

[Aerolithe_Lion]

I believe it's the addition of Sam Williams and players like Cox coming back, LVE getting over his weird envy of Parsons and returning to form. I think Joseph can really be a force against the run if he wins the spot at CB. And I think our middle of the dline guys should all be better.

Also, we have guys in the secondary who could really step up, several guys there. Doron Bland, Mukuamu, etc. Don't forget Malik Hooker is coming into his own as well.

I also look at Gregory for Williams, Fowler and now possibly Takk, so that would make 3 guys for 1 Randy Gregory. See how I get my math now?

Dan Quinn works magic, too. I see him subtly and quietly putting together a sick defense.

I'm not trying to argue, and be crappy with my reply. I'm just telling you where I'm coming from and why.

I feel you’re woefully underestimating the other teams expected to be top 5. All-Pros at every level of defense, superstars and insane contracts everywhere. Versus… Dante Fowler? Doron Bland? Jabril Cox? It’ll be a successful season and a notch in Quinn’s belt to keep this team in the top 15.

 

[Pass2Run]

I feel you’re woefully underestimating the other teams expected to be top 5. All-Pros at every level of defense, superstars and insane contracts everywhere. Versus… Dante Fowler? Doron Bland? Jabril Cox? It’ll be a successful season and a notch in Quinn’s belt to keep this team in the top 15.

As usual, Eagles fans overestimating their team and sleeping on the Cowboys. Happens most years.

 

[JoeKing]

You can count subtracting players like Cooper, Collins, Wilson, Turner, et al.

I'm asking you if we're better or worse after the draft, including after the free agent moves we've made compared to last year.

I think we'll be a little better on offense, mostly because of Smith, and Tolbert.

And I think Sam Williams will make the defense in the top 5, especially if we solidify our LB and secondary positions. The more I look at this line, and the guys coming back from last year the more I like the defense.

It wasn't the draft that made the Cowboys better or worse. It was Jerry's butchery of the roster and Stephen's inability to sign suitable replacements in free agency. The Cowboys are worse and facing a harder schedule.

 

[Pass2Run]

It wasn't the draft that made the Cowboys better or worse. It was Jerry's butchery of the roster and Stephen's inability to sign suitable replacements in free agency. The Cowboys are worse and facing a harder schedule.

Fair enough. If that's your opinion, I'm cool with that.

I think you may be misreading me, though. For the record, I'm actually arguing they're better than last year.

 

[Aerolithe_Lion]

As usual, Eagles fans overestimating their team and sleeping on the Cowboys. Happens most years.

I never said anything about the eagles. You were 19th in D because Dallas has 1 superstar player, 1 half and half in Diggs, and a laundry list of guys who were dumped by other teams or really young talent.

Expecting rookies or players with almost no experience to come in and lead a top 5 defense is completely unreasonable and unfair to the players. Ridgeway may be a genuine quality starter 4-5 years from now, but fifth round picks don’t come in their rookie year and come-to-Jesus for a unit that’s been neglected for decades. Sam Williams was a project pick when you got him. He will be a pass rush specialist and taken off the field for half the game.

Jabril Cox, Kelvin Joseph… how many career snaps do these guys have? And because they’re cowboys they’re going to knock off Aaron Donald and Jalen ramsey? Yes, there are at least 3-4 D’s better than THAT team. Saying the cowboys are already there is a crazy stretch.

 

[JoeKing]

I think you're misreading me. I'm actually arguing they're better than last year.

So you are calling my disagreement with you a "misreading"?

 

[rocknrobcowboy]

You can count subtracting players like Cooper, Collins, Wilson, Turner, et al.

I'm asking you if we're better or worse after the draft, including after the free agent moves we've made compared to last year.

I think we'll be a little better on offense, mostly because of Smith, and Tolbert.

And I think Sam Williams will make the defense in the top 5, especially if we solidify our LB and secondary positions. The more I look at this line, and the guys coming back from last year the more I like the defense.

Did the Cowboys Get Better or Worse After This Draft?
A------> Cowboys Got Worse Or Better After This Draft?

It Depends What Color Your Looking At...LOL

 

[Pass2Run]

how do you figure? The staff sucks. The OL isn’t very good. They use the wrong running back. There are decent weapons in the pass game but they’re worse there than they were

Our roster is good, outside of having a slightly above average QB, which makes it difficult to get it done these days.

I'll change my mind on that when Dak starts beating teams with .500 records, at least %30 more of his games. Like, split the difference with Tony, who had lessor teams. That should be Dak's number one goal this year: beat the teams with better records.

But that said, I personally think a slightly above average, bus driver-type like Dak can get it done. I don't mean that as an insult. I'm saying I think we have a good enough team, especially now that the defense seems to be improving, that it's possible for Dak to drive the bus to the SB. I'm not saying it's likely, but this team could win 3-4 out of 26 years. Maybe not every year, but this team has enough to win. That's why I think the window is short.

Dak is the only QB who has a shot through this window. Because no other QB we have can get it done, and we won't be bringing anyone in to challenge him until 2024. But that's not to say others with slightly less or more talent can't also get it done with the same team.

As others have said, the team will win and lose and go as Dak goes. That's pretty much true. I was just adding my two cents about why that's true. That's all.

 

[AsthmaField]

I feel you’re woefully underestimating the other teams expected to be top 5. All-Pros at every level of defense, superstars and insane contracts everywhere. Versus… Dante Fowler? Doron Bland? Jabril Cox? It’ll be a successful season and a notch in Quinn’s belt to keep this team in the top 15.

I don’t know about rankings, because you’re right, that depends on other teams defenses and now they play.

However, I don’t see it as much of a reach for the Dallas defense to be improved from last year.

There should be a normal progression of the defense in their second season with Quinn. They will know him better and he will have another season of getting guys for his system.

Last years rookies should also be improved (Parsons, Odighizuwa, Golston, etc.) as well as the third year guys like Diggs and Gallimore. There were a lot of young guys on that defense last year that should be improving.

Getting Cox back will help because he’s very good in coverage.

Malik Hooker played last year, still not at 100% from his Achilles. I expect him to be much improved as well.

Lawrence (and Gregory) missed much of last year. Having him healthy from game one will help as well.

Adding Sam Williams and Fowler to help replace Gregory should be more than fine.

So, IMO he isn’t really out of line to think there might be defensive improvement… but yeah, top 5 might be too much.

As always though, injuries can make or break a season.

 

[Pass2Run]

So you are calling my disagreement with you a "misreading"?

No, I'm guessing now that I was misreading that you were misreading me..

 

[Pass2Run]

I don’t know about rankings, because you’re right, that depends on other teams defenses and now they play.

However, I don’t see it as much of a reach for the Dallas defense to be improved from last year.

There should be a normal progression of the defense in their second season with Quinn. They will know him better and he will have another season of getting guys for his system.

Last years rookies should also be improved (Parsons, Odighizuwa, Golston, etc.) as well as the third year guys like Diggs and Gallimore. There were a lot of young guys on that defense last year that should be improving.

Getting Cox back will help because he’s very good in coverage.

Malik Hooker played last year, still not at 100% from his Achilles. I expect him to be much improved as well.

Lawrence (and Gregory) missed much of last year. Having him healthy from game one will help as well.

Adding Sam Williams and Fowler to help replace Gregory should be more than fine.

So, IMO he isn’t really out of line to think there might be defensive improvement… but yeah, top 5 might be too much.

As always though, injuries can make or break a season.

He's underestimating our defensive guys, from what I can tell.