The answer: Yes, we got better

[Streifenkarl]

Other threads will discuss individual draft picks. But here I'll just focus on big picture. We got bigger, tougher and stronger in the trenches on both sides of the ball. The switch from Quinn to Zimmer is also a big component, a big reason why the days of teams being able to physically dominate us are over.

Having said that, I give credit to other NFC teams, especially in the NFC East. The debate should be whether the Cowboys did enough to keep up in the NFC arms race, not whether the Cowboys took steps in the right direction.

Looking back to last season, no matter how well Dak played or how many points were scored, those games against the 49ers, Bills and Packers told me everything I needed to know. We were not physical/tough enough and the Quinn defense got exposed, albeit losing key LBers having something to do with it.

Far some satisfied, at least I feel better about the overall direction, even if it doesn't result in a deep playoff run. I won't be surprised if the team gets off to a slow start or even suffer a losing record as they face a brutal schedule. But at least I no longer feel this team is fundamentally flawed. No longer do I feel that the team will be overly dependent on Dak Prescott, whether he gets extended or not. Would love to pick up the next great RB at some point, but as long as the improved OL helps us get those 5-7 yard runs that keeps us in manageable 3rd down situations - that's what I would like to see.

Count me in as a supporter of what the Cowboys have accomplished this offseason so far!

Yes we did have a fairly good draft. I also like most of our picks. And I am excited about the new guys in our o line. I already sent my cudos to the FO for that in a couple of threads.

With that being said. Now because of a good draft the off-season has been good so far? What have the Cowboys accomplished? Every team picked newy young guys for their line up. You said it yourself, the question is how we are doing in the arms race. So how exactly have we created a gap between us and the other teams this off season?

(Rhetorical question there, we haven't. The draft doesn't exist in its own universe. The off season as a whole hasn't been anything special so far to say the least.)

 

[CowboyoWales]

This is the best you can have felt about the OL since pre Guillan Bare for Frederick. Potentially 5 pro bowlers if Steele is healthy and Guyton comes along like other recent first round OL picks.

Now there is no quality depth at WR, S, DT CB, or RB. One injury and you could have a skill position of:

Cooks/Tolbert out wide with Malik Davis as the Bell Cow.

So will this team beat the Eagles? Probably not. But there is at least a path going forward in 2025. Especially if they go with a Shanahan disciple for the run game.

Next years draft should be heavy focused on skill positions.

WR, RB, CB (not mentioning QB for now)

Fair points. But suring up the lines should be the no.1 priority and helps ,well in the case of the O-Line, establishes a running game and time in the passing game.
I keep looking back to 2016 and wondering how Dak and Zeke would of performed and developed without that line in front of them.

 

[CowboyoWales]

I don’t know if we got better but we replaced some of what we lost with players with as much if not more potential, younger and cheaper

Yep, and the immediate 'pressure' is on those drafted in last years draft to step up and improve.
There's a comfort zone created when we keep signing our own...not just for the aging vets, but for the drafted guys who can lose the impetus to step out of the shadow and raise their game. They are, hopefully, forced to step up and show they are now 'the man'.

 

[TwentyOne]

Other threads will discuss individual draft picks. But here I'll just focus on big picture. We got bigger, tougher and stronger in the trenches on both sides of the ball. The switch from Quinn to Zimmer is also a big component, a big reason why the days of teams being able to physically dominate us are over.

Having said that, I give credit to other NFC teams, especially in the NFC East. The debate should be whether the Cowboys did enough to keep up in the NFC arms race, not whether the Cowboys took steps in the right direction.

Looking back to last season, no matter how well Dak played or how many points were scored, those games against the 49ers, Bills and Packers told me everything I needed to know. We were not physical/tough enough and the Quinn defense got exposed, albeit losing key LBers having something to do with it.

Far some satisfied, at least I feel better about the overall direction, even if it doesn't result in a deep playoff run. I won't be surprised if the team gets off to a slow start or even suffer a losing record as they face a brutal schedule. But at least I no longer feel this team is fundamentally flawed. No longer do I feel that the team will be overly dependent on Dak Prescott, whether he gets extended or not. Would love to pick up the next great RB at some point, but as long as the improved OL helps us get those 5-7 yard runs that keeps us in manageable 3rd down situations - that's what I would like to see.

Count me in as a supporter of what the Cowboys have accomplished this offseason so far!

Last year we picked up Cooks and Gilmore and everybody said we got better than 2022. We were viewed as a contender and after a 12-4 season as legit SB candidate. Well we saw what GB thought of this talking.

Now after no FA signings, losing (more or less medicore) 6 starters and a draftclass that has only 3 positions of need adressed (Center, LB, NT) and that with lower priority picks we are better then last year again.

I am tired of that lower-management bull****-bingo talk.

And no, drafting 2 LTs when you should have had your supposed starter picked in 2022 is not drafting what you need. Its a admission to your inability to draft.

 

[nhcowboysfan]

No doubt that the Cowboys were not going to fix all of their problems this draft weekend. Anyone who thought otherwise would have been delusional.

Which is precisely why you should pursue free agents. When you do then you have way more draft flexibility to go after BPA or talented playmaker rather than filling needs.

 

[nhcowboysfan]

I think this is extremely premature. There’s a massive amount of boom or bust in this years draft. Let’s go position by position:

QB: Same
HB: Much worse
FB: Same
WR: maybe slightly better
TE: Same
LT: Worse. No way Guyton is better than Tyron year 1
LG: Same
C: Better if Beebe, worse if Hoffman
RG: slightly worse. Zack’s declining
RT: Same

DT: Worse w/o Hankins
DE: Same (Kneeland isn’t better than what we lost in year 1)
LB: Better (maybe)
CB: Slightly worse without Gilmore
S: Same/Worse

Good analysis. Much of the success for this year will hinge on guys like Mazi, Tolbert, Sam Williams, and Schoonmaker making a jump.

 

[nhcowboysfan]

It's a given that 2024 is a REBUILDING YEAR. Does this make you feel better?

This is how I feel too. This draft is more for 2025 and beyond. The 3 OL drafted is likely for the purpose of moving on from Steele's and Martin's contracts as we need cap space to sign Lamb and Parsons.

 

[Fastpitch Dad]

Why get personal? I've read a few of your over the top rants and what's funny is that I have also expressed doubts about Dak and him being the answer at QB. But my main beef with him is the size of his contract. If he got paid less and we could afford to surround him with more talent and beef up the running game, I wouldn't have a problem with him. But since that isn't the case, I would rather move on and not resign him.
I have also expressed my hate about the Jones family and the way they run things. I'm also on record as stating that Jerry Jones has a drinking problem. But I will give them credit for having a good draft. It doesn't mean that I feel like they did enough this offseason especially when you look at other NFC East teams did this offseason.

There nothing wrong with having a balanced perspective. You should try it!

Even better than your first post. I don't agree with everything you said, but I admire your optimism. Well done in my opinion.

 

[noshame]

Big talented offensive lines can make Troy Hambrick look like a all pro . So don't waste the picks on RB.
Build a OL of asassassin's.
Then build a killer DL

Championship

 

[DuncanIso]

I think this is extremely premature. There’s a massive amount of boom or bust in this years draft. Let’s go position by position:

QB: Same
HB: Much worse
FB: Same
WR: maybe slightly better
TE: Same
LT: Worse. No way Guyton is better than Tyron year 1
LG: Same
C: Better if Beebe, worse if Hoffman
RG: slightly worse. Zack’s declining
RT: Same

DT: Worse w/o Hankins
DE: Same (Kneeland isn’t better than what we lost in year 1)
LB: Better (maybe)
CB: Slightly worse without Gilmore
S: Same/Worse

It’s ok man.

The OL looks a lot better with the players we have now.

 

[DuncanIso]

Big talented offensive lines can make Troy Hambrick look like a all pro . So don't waste the picks on RB.
Build a OL of asassassin's.
Then build a killer DL

Championship

Gotta have an elite RB.

Why not?

 

[DuncanIso]

Just because someone thinks the team is better today then it was last week doesn’t mean we expect the team to have more success. Heck I don’t.

We can feel better about the OL now.

They did a good job of finding players.

It’s on the coaches now.

 

[CowboyoWales]

Last year we picked up Cooks and Gilmore and everybody said we got better than 2022. We were viewed as a contender and after a 12-4 season as legit SB candidate. Well we saw what GB thought of this talking.

Now after no FA signings, losing (more or less medicore) 6 starters and a draftclass that has only 3 positions of need adressed (Center, LB, NT) and that with lower priority picks we are better then last year again.

I am tired of that lower-management bull****-bingo talk.

And no, drafting 2 LTs when you should have had your supposed starter picked in 2022 is not drafting what you need. Its a admission to your inability to draft.

No we arent better than last year....especially as youre concerntrating on names, and names in premium positions.

We are soft-resetting the CAP so forget competing for SB's (not that we got anywhere near in 2023). This draft is to set the foundation for 2025.

We're building it the way it should be....from foundations up. I know you hate the two dislike the Guyton pick, but the flex throughout the O-Line will solidify both running and passing options.
Just remember how you felt with the two Conners getting beaten (or holding) on nearly every play, or our running game being hampered because Biadasz couldn't contribute much as he couldn't hold his own (let alone get off the block).

 

[CowboyoWales]

Big talented offensive lines can make Troy Hambrick look like a all pro . So don't waste the picks on RB.
Build a OL of asassassin's.
Then build a killer DL

Championship

I'd give you, two likes for that post, but give you a instead.
Build the foundations first as it facilitates and assists EEVERYTHING else.

 

[CowboyoWales]

Which is precisely why you should pursue free agents. When you do then you have way more draft flexibility to go after BPA or talented playmaker rather than filling needs.

We will, just not this year as its 'soft reset. I suppose that's the reason why we didn't 'waste' a pick on a RB....it looks like we liked Brooks, but no other RB was a long term solution.

 

[doomsday9084]

IMO, the team is being set up nicely to do well in 2025 and beyond. This draft continues to lay a groundwork for that. Overall, the team is clearly worse than it was in 2023 from a talent perspective. The only change I see that might change that is Zimmer but outside of a few awful stinkers, the defense was pretty good last year and people tend to forget that.

 

[Parcells4Life]

Which is precisely why you should pursue free agents. When you do then you have way more draft flexibility to go after BPA or talented playmaker rather than filling needs.

I’m curious to see how many vet FAs they can get for the minimum now that the draft has reduced even more options out there

 

[Parcells4Life]

IMO, the team is being set up nicely to do well in 2025 and beyond. This draft continues to lay a groundwork for that. Overall, the team is clearly worse than it was in 2023 from a talent perspective. The only change I see that might change that is Zimmer but outside of a few awful stinkers, the defense was pretty good last year and people tend to forget that.

Supposedly 2025 the cap is going to be even worse with all dead money coming due at once. It’s 2026 that looks promising.

 

[CowboyoWales]

Supposedly 2025 the cap is going to be even worse with all dead money coming due at once. It’s 2026 that looks promising.

No it isn't. The only issue is the high Dead CAP level, as for available CAP we're in a good position.
If you add in our 'traditional' contract strategy of high signing bonus and prorater it away from Year1....then we've out of the most difficult year (2024).

 

[doomsday9084]

Supposedly 2025 the cap is going to be even worse with all dead money coming due at once. It’s 2026 that looks promising.

https://overthecap.com/salary-cap/dallas-cowboys

You are right that 2026 looks great. 2025 looks manageable. $80m in capspace with need to sign draft classes, CeeDee and a QB. 2025 does have $44m of void years on it plus part of Gallup's salary.

As a general note, the Cowboys really pushed a lot of salary into the future with all of these void years. A lot of teams don't do this. Dallas' window was before these things hit.