How many of our starters would start for the 5 best playoff teams in this league?

[Bobhaze]

Here is the question I’m asking: Of the 22 starters we have right now on our depth chart, how many would be starting for the better playoff teams this year? My assessment will be based on the teams with the 5 best records in both conferences, regardless of seeding in playoffs. Followed by the question, “Would this Cowboys starter start for one of these teams?” Answers will be yes, no or maybe.

Here are the top 5 teams by record:

• Detroit Lions - 15-2
• KC Chiefs- 15-2
• Minnesota Vikings - 14-3
• Philadelphia eagles - 14-3
• Buffalo Bills- 13-4

Below is our depth chart based on who would be our starting lineup if everyone was healthy. I will then give my opinion as to whether our starter would be a starter for any of the five best teams, yes, no or maybe?

OFFENSE

• QB Dak Prescott- would he start for any of the 5 best teams? Maybe Minn. But that’s it.
• RB Rico Dowdle - No.
• WR Cedee Lamb - Yes. Any of the 5.
• WR Brandin Cooks- No.
• WR Jalen Tolbert - No.
• LT Tyler Guyton. No
• LG Tyler Smith. Yes. Any of the 5.
• C Cooper Beebe. No. (He does have a bright future though)
• RG Zack Martin. Sadly, no because of his injuries.
• RT Terance Steele - No.
• TE Jake Ferguson - No.

So on offense, we have 2 players who are yes, and one maybe.
DEFENSE

• DE DeMarcus Lawrence - No because of age and injuries. I almost said maybe.
• DT Mazi Smith - Hard No.
• DT Osa Odighizhua- Maybe.
• DE Micah Parsons - Yes.
• LB Eric Kendricks - No.
• LB DeMarvion Overshown - if he was healthy yes. As it is now, sadly no.
• CB Deron Bland - Yes.
• CB Trevon Diggs. No.
• Slot CB - Jourdan Lewis. I say maybe but that may be generous.
• S Donovan Wilson - No.
• S Malik Hooker - No.

So on D, Micah Parsons and Deron Bland were a yes. Osa Odighizhua and Jourdan Lewis are maybes. I believe Overshown would be a yes if he were healthy.

SPECIAL TEAMS

• K Brandon Aubrey - yes.
• P Brian Anger - Maybe.
• LATE EDIT: KR Kevante Turpin - yes

So overall, I see us having 2 yes players on offense - Cedee Lamb and Tyler Smith. I see 2 yes players on D - Parsons and Deron Bland. 1 yes on ST in K Brandon Aubrey and KR Kevante Turpin. So that’s 5 players I would consider the core of this team that would be starting on any NFL team.

Translation: I know this is subjective, but it looks like we have 5 really good players, a few pretty good players (the maybes) and a bunch of JAGs at multiple positions. We have a lot of talent gaps to fill.

What are your assessments of our starters?

 

[DasTex]

We like our guys

 

[Carson]

Bland - No and Diggs is probably a yes

 

[gimmesix]

If you are giving an injury qualifier to Diggs, then I agree. A healthy Diggs would be a starter anywhere else just like he was here.

 

[cald0d30s0]

This is a good way to know where we are with the players. I do agree with the full list. Again, talent is there, coaching is lacking.

 

[big dog cowboy]

• QB Dak Prescott- would he start for any of the 5 best teams? Maybe Minn. But that’s it.

I would trade Dak Prescott for Sam Darnold straight up right now.

 

[Bobhaze]

This is a good way to know where we are with the players. I do agree with the full list. Again, talent is there, coaching is lacking.

Brother, I’m going to disagree that “the talent is there”. I believe as it stands right now the Cowboys are middle of the pack in talent. That goes back to last year when even though we were 12-5, we beat up on bad teams, and other than Det, we didn’t play the better teams well at all.

I believe this team is lacking in talent in the trenches (badly) and at most of the skill positions. We certainly aren’t the bottom half of the league in talent but I would say we’re in the middle - maybe 12th - 20th overall.

 

[john van brocklin]

We like our guys

Our Owner likes himself as GM...

 

[Redline360]

Assuming they were all perfectly healthy.

Offense:
Lamb
T.Smith

Defense:
Tank - If he's healthy I could see him starting
Parsons
Overshown if not injured
Possibly Diggs and Bland. Would rather start bland as i was never a huge fan of Diggs early "hype"

So parsons and overshown. 50/50 tank, diggs, bland

 

[stilltheguru]

Lions don't have a linebacker better than Kendricks. Their whole defense is trash now but even healthy linebacker was weak for them

There are other flaws with the choices as well. As usual it seems most fans miss the mark on the issues

 

[Chocolate Lab]

You got it: Lamb, Smith, Micah, and Bland. That's it.

But better coaching and "playcalling" should have gotten us to the playoffs. Right.

 

[thunderpimp91]

Good perspective Bob. I think it shows that this team is a lot further away than many (Jerry included) seems to believe.

 

[thunderpimp91]

Lions don't have a linebacker better than Kendricks. Their whole defense is trash now but even healthy linebacker was weak for them

There are other flaws with the choices as well. As usual it seems most fans miss the mark on the issues

I'd take Jack Campbell over Kendricks in a heartbeat. Not that its a massive gap, but Campbell is going to be better than Kendricks is in coverage at this point in his career.

 

[stilltheguru]

I'd take Jack Campbell over Kendricks in a heartbeat. Not that its a massive gap, but Campbell is going to be better than Kendricks is in coverage at this point in his career.

still 2 linebackers on a starting defense even if you want to put Campbell over. Chiefs right tackle better than Steele?

 

[RonnieT24]

Here is the question I’m asking: Of the 22 starters we have right now on our depth chart, how many would be starting for the better playoff teams this year? My assessment will be based on the teams with the 5 best records in both conferences, regardless of seeding in playoffs. Followed by the question, “Would this Cowboys starter start for one of these teams?” Answers will be yes, no or maybe.

Here are the top 5 teams by record:

• Detroit Lions - 15-2
• KC Chiefs- 15-2
• Minnesota Vikings - 14-3
• Philadelphia eagles - 14-3
• Buffalo Bills- 13-4

Below is our depth chart based on who would be our starting lineup if everyone was healthy. I will then give my opinion as to whether our starter would be a starter for any of the five best teams, yes, no or maybe?

OFFENSE

• QB Dak Prescott- would he start for any of the 5 best teams? Maybe Minn. But that’s it.
• RB Rico Dowdle - No.
• WR Cedee Lamb - Yes. Any of the 5.
• WR Brandin Cooks- No.
• WR Jalen Tolbert - No.
• LT Tyler Guyton. No
• LG Tyler Smith. Yes. Any of the 5.
• C Cooper Beebe. No. (He does have a bright future though)
• RG Zack Martin. Sadly, no because of his injuries.
• RT Terance Steele - No.
• TE Jake Ferguson - No.

So on offense, we have 2 players who are yes, and one maybe.
DEFENSE

• DE DeMarcus Lawrence - No because of age and injuries. I almost said maybe.
• DT Mazi Smith - Hard No.
• DT Osa Odighizhua- Maybe.
• DE Micah Parsons - Yes.
• LB Eric Kendricks - No.
• LB DeMarvion Overshown - if he was healthy yes. As it is now, sadly no.
• CB Deron Bland - Yes.
• CB Trevon Diggs. No.
• Slot CB - Jourdan Lewis. I say maybe but that may be generous.
• S Donovan Wilson - No.
• S Malik Hooker - No.

So on D, Micah Parsons and Deron Bland were a yes. Osa Odighizhua and Jourdan Lewis are maybes. I believe Overshown would be a yes if he were healthy.

SPECIAL TEAMS

• K Brandon Aubrey - yes.
• P Brian Anger - Maybe.

So overall, I see us having 2 yes players on offense - Cedee Lamb and Tyler Smith. I see 2 yes players on D - Parsons and Deron Bland. 1 yes on ST in K Brandon Aubrey. So that’s 5 players I would consider the core of this team that would be starting on any NFL team.

Translation: I know this is subjective, but it looks like we have 5 really good players, a few pretty good players (the maybes) and a bunch of JAGs at multiple positions. We have a lot of talent gaps to fill.

What are your assessments of our starters?

Sorry to disagree but I think Dak is better than Hurts and with good protection probably better than Goff. And never forget that as bad as we may think our offensive linemen are, they are consistently graded out among the top 10 in the league.. Which is a testament to how bad offensive line play has gotten int eh NFL. I think a healthy Lawrence and Overshown are solid yeses too. And I would upgrade Kendricks to a maybe. Dude was pretty solid when he was on the field.

 

[SackMaster]

I would trade Dak Prescott for Sam Darnold straight up right now.

I'm 99.9999999% sure you would trade Dak for Ryan Leaf straight up, right now in 2025, so you're not really saying much at all.


Just teasing.

 

[cald0d30s0]

Brother, I’m going to disagree that “the talent is there”. I believe as it stands right now the Cowboys are middle of the pack in talent. That goes back to last year when even though we were 12-5, we beat up on bad teams, and other than Det, we didn’t play the better teams well at all.

I believe this team is lacking in talent in the trenches (badly) and at most of the skill positions. We certainly aren’t the bottom half of the league in talent but I would say we’re in the middle - maybe 12th - 20th overall.

You are right. We are in the middle, we do need more talent in trenches.

 

[thunderpimp91]

still 2 linebackers on a starting defense even if you want to put Campbell over. Chiefs right tackle better than Steele?

Eh sort of fair, but I'd personally not play Kendricks anywhere but the Mike so I would only compare to Detroit's current Mike. If you're just looking to get the two best players on the field then yeah I'm with you.

Steele vs Jawaan Taylor is actually a very interesting debate. I'd have zero pushback if someone wanted to take Steele there, just depends on if you prefer the better pass blocker or the better run blocker.

 

[PAPPYDOG]

Sorry to disagree but I think Dak is better than Hurts and with good protection probably better than Goff. And never forget that as bad as we may think our offensive linemen are, they are consistently graded out among the top 10 in the league.. Which is a testament to how bad offensive line play has gotten int eh NFL. I think a healthy Lawrence and Overshown are solid yeses too. And I would upgrade Kendricks to a maybe. Dude was pretty solid when he was on the field.

Ok, Tad whatever you say bud................Now go get charged that credit card your brother has given you.

 

[Coogiguy03]

I don't know if I truly agree I mean these teams have injuries going into the playoffs, and you also can't have studs at every position. I'm willing to add Kendricks and beebee maybe