Mike McCarthy is a good hire. He gives us a realistic chance to maximize the talent we have, but perhaps more importantly, he gives us the opportunity to have a fresh set of eyes to evaluate this team’s roster. This team needs a really good offseason to evaluate its talent and upgrade where needed.
One of the weaknesses of our organization the last two decades is too often having a rosy estimate of our talent. The best NFL GMs are willing and able to look at players critically and determine how much tread is on the tire of a player and their true value in a hard salary cap.
I’m of the opinion that most of us as fans, and sadly even the Jones power brokers, tend to overvalue our talent. That’s normal for fans. It’s not normal for a good front office.
With that in mind, here are some positions and roster spots (in no particular order) I believe need some real scrutiny:
- LT- Truly one of the 3 most important positions on a team includes LT. From 2011-2018, Tyron Smith was one of the best players in the NFL and perhaps even the best player on the Cowboys roster. But back and knee injuries have made Ty Smith a lot more human. We need to consider that his days as a top LT are winding down. I don't see a problem with planning for his demise. Its coming sooner than we think. He is a shell of his former self but hes still top 10. I do not want to move Collins over there no way.
- Safety- a no brainer. We haven’t had great talent at this position for too long. It’s time for this team to invest in a premium draft pick at a long time position of need. Yes please.Its sad that Heath is your best player at S. This should either be Jamaal Adams or 1st or second BPA at that position.
- DT- a close second to safety in obvious need. Another position where we have settled for mid-late round draft picks or cheap retreads. It’s past time to address this position early in the draft. Id argue this is the biggest need on the team and must be 1st or second pick depending on who's there and how the draft falls.
- WR- Amari Cooper is a great talent and he certainly helped this team for two years. But I don’t believe in investing huge cap space on a position that is one of the easiest to find talent. Michael Gallup’s emergence also makes giving huge cap dollars to Cooper less attractive. I favor moving on from him and saving some cash. Amari was hurt half the year and for whatever reason disappeared away from home but I don't see us moving on from him. I hesitate to make him the highest paid player because of drops and injury concerns. I hope they re-up Cobb and gallup is darn near what Cooper is.
- LB- I still believe a healthy LVE is a great talent. I’m a little concerned about Jaylon after his big contract but he’s still certainly a talent. This team still needs LB talent. We should probably say goodbye to Sean Lee though. Love the guy and what he has meant to this team. But it’s better to cut a guy a year early than too late. This is my 3rd biggest need on the team perhaps tied with S as the second biggest need. I fear for LVE and smith IMO regressed. I can see needing 2 of these.
- Guard- I’m not convinced that Connor Williams is a starter. He’s ok at best. Maybe Connor Macgovern is an upgrade and Williams just becomes a decent backup. But this position needs to be addressed. I think we need a LT for grooming and we could use better depth as a whole. Im interested in McGovern but frankly even though the line is much worse IMO than 2016 version they are still top 10 in league.
- TE- Jason Witten needs to go. He’s a HOFer but he’s done. We need another TE probably from the draft to complement the emergence of Blake Jarwin.We have needed a TE for the longest. Heck we used to draft them in the 2nd all the time when we didnt need them now we ignore it and rely on old man Witten. Id love for this to be addressed in FA and give Jarwin his chance.
There are probably more positions of need not mentioned above. But it’s certainly clear this team needs upgrades at multiple positions. In general, I would say the defense has the most glaring needs. But I also hope Coach Mac is able to bring a more discerning eye on this roster. And that we can stop being married to a player too long because “we love them”.
