Some thoughts on what we might be looking at in 2025

[darthseinfeld]

Just a little bit of draft scattershot here. Mainly focused on potential needs next offseason

- DL is very likely to be a major need. DT in particular. Smith may be the only DT on the current roster on the team next year. It could look so grim at DT that the 2025 1st rounder may be a forced pick. Alot depends on what retaining or not retaining Odighizuwa. Even if we do, and Smith has a decent season, DT is a need. Just not as critical

-DE looks like it could be a major need, but there are things to watch. Kneeland could be a factor in terms of much a need DE is. An interesting scenario is if they negotiate with Williams after the season and tack a year on to his rookie deal. Its something that benefit both parties as it gives Dallas a year of contract control and makes it so Williams can test the market 2 years removed from his injury instead of 1. His market might not be very good 1 year removed from injury. One thing to consider is Im not sure if Williams is Zimmers type of DE. However there is a good chance is one and done

- WR could be a major need. As it stands, we dont have a future #2. We have some interesting guys, but they will have to grow ALOT before they are in the true #2 convo. This could be more of a trade thing (similar to Cooks in 2023) than a draft thing however

- HB could be a critcal need as well. Unless they make a move prior to the draft, it would be hard for the FO to sell not using a top 120 pick on a back

- LB is going to be an interesting position to watch. Consecutive years adding day 2 LB's, and getting Clarke in '22 who carried a 2nd round grade. Clarke hasnt been very good. Overshown has had injury issues, and Liufau is still pretty raw. Going to be an interesting position to watch.

- The secondary looks very deep and strong. However, you need alot of contributors and depth.

-They have added some good young players and prospects over the last few years. However a possible Zack Martin exit could be looming. And we still dont know if Steele will back to 2022 form. If Martin leaves and Steele doesnt rebound, I think we have the players to fill that (Bass, Richards), but thats still projection. One of those positions could wind up being a need.

- To me the QB's in this draft have Andy Dalton level upside. Or Miami Tannehill. Not a great year to be looking at QB's

 

[John813]

Next year is Bland's last year on his ELC. He will play again this year, so, we'll see how he does and if he balls out again, could have a situation where he holds in or out.
Will get a good look at Carson to start this year
Lewis is an UFA next year and will be 30 for the start of the 2025 season.

As it stands, they got some holes to replace, and in some positions they may need some day 1 guys to step in.

 

[Mac_MaloneV1]

Defensive line for sure - edge and DT. WR becomes a massive need if Tolbert doesn't take a step.

Outside of that, it really just depends on where they want to address depth and if they plan on moving out any contracts. Maybe an OG to compete as ZM's replacement or a S if they decide to move on from Wilson/Hooker.

 

[darthseinfeld]

Defensive line for sure - edge and DT. WR becomes a massive need if Tolbert doesn't take a step.

Outside of that, it really just depends on where they want to address depth and if they plan on moving out any contracts. Maybe an OG to compete as ZM's replacement or a S if they decide to move on from Wilson/Hooker.

With WR, I do think it might be possible to find a decent #2 via trade at low cost if need be. There always seems to be those types of moves going down in the offseason

 

[Mac_MaloneV1]

With WR, I do think it might be possible to find a decent #2 via trade at low cost if need be. There always seems to be those types of moves going down in the offseason

Maybe

But if the issue is needing a #2, that means Cooks and Tolbert both failed to produce this year, so you need more than one body anyway. There are a bunch of vet WRs, for now, scheduled to be UFA after this year who should still have something to give (Diggs, Keenan Allen, Chris Godwin), and the 2026 class for trade targets would include Deebo, McLaurin, DK and a few other guys. I'm hard pressed to imagine Flournoy or Brooks being ready to be a #3 next year, so if Cooks and Tolbert are both out you've got a big, big hole.

 

[visionary]

Just a little bit of draft scattershot here. Mainly focused on potential needs next offseason

- DL is very likely to be a major need. DT in particular. Smith may be the only DT on the current roster on the team next year. It could look so grim at DT that the 2025 1st rounder may be a forced pick. Alot depends on what retaining or not retaining Odighizuwa. Even if we do, and Smith has a decent season, DT is a need. Just not as critical

-DE looks like it could be a major need, but there are things to watch. Kneeland could be a factor in terms of much a need DE is. An interesting scenario is if they negotiate with Williams after the season and tack a year on to his rookie deal. Its something that benefit both parties as it gives Dallas a year of contract control and makes it so Williams can test the market 2 years removed from his injury instead of 1. His market might not be very good 1 year removed from injury. One thing to consider is Im not sure if Williams is Zimmers type of DE. However there is a good chance is one and done

- WR could be a major need. As it stands, we dont have a future #2. We have some interesting guys, but they will have to grow ALOT before they are in the true #2 convo. This could be more of a trade thing (similar to Cooks in 2023) than a draft thing however

- HB could be a critcal need as well. Unless they make a move prior to the draft, it would be hard for the FO to sell not using a top 120 pick on a back

- LB is going to be an interesting position to watch. Consecutive years adding day 2 LB's, and getting Clarke in '22 who carried a 2nd round grade. Clarke hasnt been very good. Overshown has had injury issues, and Liufau is still pretty raw. Going to be an interesting position to watch.

- The secondary looks very deep and strong. However, you need alot of contributors and depth.

-They have added some good young players and prospects over the last few years. However a possible Zack Martin exit could be looming. And we still dont know if Steele will back to 2022 form. If Martin leaves and Steele doesnt rebound, I think we have the players to fill that (Bass, Richards), but thats still projection. One of those positions could wind up being a need.

- To me the QB's in this draft have Andy Dalton level upside. Or Miami Tannehill. Not a great year to be looking at QB's

This is said about QBs every year and is not true

I was listening to the Skins show last week and they said that at this time last year Jayden was a 4th round pick

There will be QBs before the draft who will be picked in the top 10

 

[MonsterD]

Simply put I am so worried over the Dline I would forsake any RB in the draft to draft both DE and DTs they need a couple of really good hits for the Dline in this draft. Really good ones because in my mind Mazi is a no-show.

 

[baltcowboy]

Just a little bit of draft scattershot here. Mainly focused on potential needs next offseason

- DL is very likely to be a major need. DT in particular. Smith may be the only DT on the current roster on the team next year. It could look so grim at DT that the 2025 1st rounder may be a forced pick. Alot depends on what retaining or not retaining Odighizuwa. Even if we do, and Smith has a decent season, DT is a need. Just not as critical

-DE looks like it could be a major need, but there are things to watch. Kneeland could be a factor in terms of much a need DE is. An interesting scenario is if they negotiate with Williams after the season and tack a year on to his rookie deal. Its something that benefit both parties as it gives Dallas a year of contract control and makes it so Williams can test the market 2 years removed from his injury instead of 1. His market might not be very good 1 year removed from injury. One thing to consider is Im not sure if Williams is Zimmers type of DE. However there is a good chance is one and done

- WR could be a major need. As it stands, we dont have a future #2. We have some interesting guys, but they will have to grow ALOT before they are in the true #2 convo. This could be more of a trade thing (similar to Cooks in 2023) than a draft thing however

- HB could be a critcal need as well. Unless they make a move prior to the draft, it would be hard for the FO to sell not using a top 120 pick on a back

- LB is going to be an interesting position to watch. Consecutive years adding day 2 LB's, and getting Clarke in '22 who carried a 2nd round grade. Clarke hasnt been very good. Overshown has had injury issues, and Liufau is still pretty raw. Going to be an interesting position to watch.

- The secondary looks very deep and strong. However, you need alot of contributors and depth.

-They have added some good young players and prospects over the last few years. However a possible Zack Martin exit could be looming. And we still dont know if Steele will back to 2022 form. If Martin leaves and Steele doesnt rebound, I think we have the players to fill that (Bass, Richards), but thats still projection. One of those positions could wind up being a need.

- To me the QB's in this draft have Andy Dalton level upside. Or Miami Tannehill. Not a great year to be looking at QB's

Good analysis on the Cowboys needs. I hope they attack the defensive line like they attacked the offensive line in the last draft. We need a defensive tackle or two and a stud defensive end.

 

[darthseinfeld]

Simply put I am so worried over the Dline I would forsake any RB in the draft to draft both DE and DTs they need a couple of really good hits for the Dline in this draft. Really good ones because in my mind Mazi is a no-show.

I could them going DT and DE in rounds 1 and 2. And them probably circling back to DT again somewhere in the top 200.

I do think we will have alot of needs going in to the next draft. Skill positions outside Lamb and Ferguson are awful. All we have outside those two are prayers

 

[KevinHickey22]

I want a really physical, mean DT assuming we are selecting at the bottom of the draft.

 

[reddyuta]

It will likely be WR,we are not getting a great DT where we are drafting in RD 1.

 

[Mac_MaloneV1]

It will likely be WR,we are not getting a great DT where we are drafting in RD 1.

I don't think one is more likely than the other. The top 3-4 at each position will likely be gone.

I'm fine with WR, but there should be a DT or DE there.

 

[Cowboyny]

Just a little bit of draft scattershot here. Mainly focused on potential needs next offseason

- DL is very likely to be a major need. DT in particular. Smith may be the only DT on the current roster on the team next year. It could look so grim at DT that the 2025 1st rounder may be a forced pick. Alot depends on what retaining or not retaining Odighizuwa. Even if we do, and Smith has a decent season, DT is a need. Just not as critical

-DE looks like it could be a major need, but there are things to watch. Kneeland could be a factor in terms of much a need DE is. An interesting scenario is if they negotiate with Williams after the season and tack a year on to his rookie deal. Its something that benefit both parties as it gives Dallas a year of contract control and makes it so Williams can test the market 2 years removed from his injury instead of 1. His market might not be very good 1 year removed from injury. One thing to consider is Im not sure if Williams is Zimmers type of DE. However there is a good chance is one and done

- WR could be a major need. As it stands, we dont have a future #2. We have some interesting guys, but they will have to grow ALOT before they are in the true #2 convo. This could be more of a trade thing (similar to Cooks in 2023) than a draft thing however

- HB could be a critcal need as well. Unless they make a move prior to the draft, it would be hard for the FO to sell not using a top 120 pick on a back

- LB is going to be an interesting position to watch. Consecutive years adding day 2 LB's, and getting Clarke in '22 who carried a 2nd round grade. Clarke hasnt been very good. Overshown has had injury issues, and Liufau is still pretty raw. Going to be an interesting position to watch.

- The secondary looks very deep and strong. However, you need alot of contributors and depth.

-They have added some good young players and prospects over the last few years. However a possible Zack Martin exit could be looming. And we still dont know if Steele will back to 2022 form. If Martin leaves and Steele doesnt rebound, I think we have the players to fill that (Bass, Richards), but thats still projection. One of those positions could wind up being a need.

- To me the QB's in this draft have Andy Dalton level upside. Or Miami Tannehill. Not a great year to be looking at QB's

It's very early, but DT, WR, RB appear to be the top 3 needs. Edge could be as well, but let's see how Kneeland plays this season. Also, now with Dak signed, time to throw some darts at the position in hopes of finding the next Dak/Romo to develop.

 

[Mac_MaloneV1]

It's very early, but DT, WR, RB appear to be the top 3 needs. Edge could be as well, but let's see how Kneeland plays this season. Also, now with Dak signed, time to throw some darts at the position in hopes of finding the next Dak/Romo to develop.

Edge is a need pretty much regardless of Kneeland. Williams is a wild card and in a contract year to boot.

 

[darthseinfeld]

Edge is a need pretty much regardless of Kneeland. Williams is a wild card and in a contract year to boot.

I do wonder if they give Williams a one year "extension" in the offseason. Get a year of contract control back, and he gets a nice little raise and can test the market two years removed from knee surgery as opposed to one

 

[Mac_MaloneV1]

I do wonder if they give Williams a one year "extension" in the offseason. Get a year of contract control back, and he gets a nice little raise and can test the market two years removed from knee surgery as opposed to one

Not a bad idea, but it would have to be quite a bit of cash to be worthwhile for him.

Something like a 1-year, $14-15m extension that gives him a raise on his rookie deal in 2025 and splits the cap over two years might give both parties some value, but he'd certainly be leaving money on the table if he comes out and has ~12 sacks next year.

...talking myself into it more as I type lol.

 

[darthseinfeld]

Not a bad idea, but it would have to be quite a bit of cash to be worthwhile for him.

Something like a 1-year, $14-15m extension that gives him a raise on his rookie deal in 2025 and splits the cap over two years might give both parties some value, but he'd certainly be leaving money on the table if he comes out and has ~12 sacks next year.

...talking myself into it more as I type lol.

That seems reasonable. At minimum he should be a decent rotational rusher, which is valuable

For him there is no guarentee he is in peak for in 2025. Even if he is, his long term market is much with two season of full time production vs just one

 

[JD_KaPow]

The offensive skill positions are a massive need for next year. Beyond CeeDee, there's no top-tier talent on the roster. Yeah, Cooks and Ferguson are fine: Cooks would be a very good (albeit aging) #2 WR on a team that has a terrific TE or a dynamic pass-catching RB, and Ferguson would be a very good #1 TE on a team that has two top-tier receivers. But Dallas doesn't have that second game-breaking player anywhere. They need a talent infusion there, either through free agency or the draft.

OL, DE and LB are always needs, you want to draft young guys there just about every year regardless of who you have (LB isn't premium but LBs get hurt, it's what they do). And I agree that they should be targeting DT: again, could be free agency or the draft.

 

[Cowboyny]

Edge is a need pretty much regardless of Kneeland. Williams is a wild card and in a contract year to boot.

Question is, how big of need will it be? Future starter or more of a rotational type?

 

[Mac_MaloneV1]

Question is, how big of need will it be? Future starter or more of a rotational type?

I guess.

Your "#3" edge is going to play a lot, regardless.