Shake_Tiller
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Looking to next season, from a talent perspective, what do the Cowboys "need," and what do they "want," assuming no further career-threatening injuries?
I would argue the offensive "need' is OT, with an infusion at OG and at TE "wants." Some might also want to replace the RB or to find a supplement to Pollard if Elliott were to be replaced, which would shock me.
The defensive "needs" are a DT, a DE if Aldon Smith leaves (and probably if he doesn't), a LB, 2 CBs and a safety. Quite a shopping list.
The defense must be rebuilt unless we are comfortable resigning players who have disappointed, and unless we want to ride with Jaylon Smith and hope 2020 is an aberration.
Your defensive building blocks are Lawrence, maybe Gallimore, Gregory if you are confident in his health, Vander Esch, again assuming you think he can stay healthy, and Diggs. Everyone else looks like a hope, a prayer, a probable FA departure or a stop-gap.
Maybe Hill is a viable rotation DT. Maybe Wilson can be a decent S given pass rush support. Maybe one of the young LBs (Bernard or Gifford) can be a viable starter. Maybe Anae can be a rotational DE.
But I wouldn't count on any of that.
There are other decent contributors on defense (Antwaun Woods, Brown and Armstrong come to mind), but they probably top out at being replacement level starters.
Emphasize defense in talent acquisition. Assuming they sign Prescott, they really are in pretty good shape on offense unless they need to replace Smith at OT. That's the one offensive position that could distract me as I add talent. If there is an opportunity to get a really good OT, take it.
The defense can be fixed relatively quickly if they draft intensively and well. A dynamic pass rusher or 2 would make a huge difference in what is required in the back end. If players such as A. Smith, Crawford, Lee, X. Woods, Lewis and Awuzie move on, the Cowboys can play in FA.
On defense, they might have to take a risk. Spend the FA $$$ on higher-level players (not necessarily high-end, 1st-day signings but the talent you have to lock up in the 1st week or 2 of free agency). That means relying on the middle rounds of the draft for depth, but this team needs viable starters.
A decision on Jaylon is critical, and the returns are not promising.
Otherwise, make at least 5 of their next 6 premium additions (draft and/or free agency) CBs and pass rushers.
If they can supplement Lawrence, Gallimore and Gregory with a 1st or 2nd round pick and a solid FA signing, they could be in decent shape. Hill and Armstrong are a start on adequate depth.
LB is a weird spot for this team. Vander Esch and Jaylon ought to be foundation pieces. But the former hasn't stayed healthy, and the latter hasn't played well. I wonder if Jaylon is just a spot 3-4 pass rusher. LB is a "want," for now, and probably has to stand in line behind DT, DE, CB and S. But they have to be honest in evaluating whether it is a "need."
The secondary is an almost total rebuild. Diggs is a good start, and Wilson shows signs of being an adequate player and potential playmaker given a strong pass rush.
I'd be tempted to roll the dice on signing 1 of the best 1-3 CBs available in FA. Then I'd spend at least 2 of the first 4 draft picks on the secondary, maybe including a 2nd or a 3rd on a S.
Best case, wherever they land in the draft (probably from 3 to 8, or 19 if they miraculously win their horrible division), they can parlay an available QB prospect into a favorable trade down. Seems good QB prospects are scattered through the 1st round, so that isn't a pipe dream.
The Cowboys can write off most offensive woes to incredibly poor luck with injuries. They must face facts on defense. Many of their players aren't good enough and must be aggressively replaced.
No objection to last year's opportunistic choice of Lamb. There can't be distractions in the next draft. If BPA isn't a defensive player, trade back, even at a modest return. Maybe draft the Oregon OT, but only after trading down at least a couple slots. The QB prospects might make it possible.
I would argue the offensive "need' is OT, with an infusion at OG and at TE "wants." Some might also want to replace the RB or to find a supplement to Pollard if Elliott were to be replaced, which would shock me.
The defensive "needs" are a DT, a DE if Aldon Smith leaves (and probably if he doesn't), a LB, 2 CBs and a safety. Quite a shopping list.
The defense must be rebuilt unless we are comfortable resigning players who have disappointed, and unless we want to ride with Jaylon Smith and hope 2020 is an aberration.
Your defensive building blocks are Lawrence, maybe Gallimore, Gregory if you are confident in his health, Vander Esch, again assuming you think he can stay healthy, and Diggs. Everyone else looks like a hope, a prayer, a probable FA departure or a stop-gap.
Maybe Hill is a viable rotation DT. Maybe Wilson can be a decent S given pass rush support. Maybe one of the young LBs (Bernard or Gifford) can be a viable starter. Maybe Anae can be a rotational DE.
But I wouldn't count on any of that.
There are other decent contributors on defense (Antwaun Woods, Brown and Armstrong come to mind), but they probably top out at being replacement level starters.
Emphasize defense in talent acquisition. Assuming they sign Prescott, they really are in pretty good shape on offense unless they need to replace Smith at OT. That's the one offensive position that could distract me as I add talent. If there is an opportunity to get a really good OT, take it.
The defense can be fixed relatively quickly if they draft intensively and well. A dynamic pass rusher or 2 would make a huge difference in what is required in the back end. If players such as A. Smith, Crawford, Lee, X. Woods, Lewis and Awuzie move on, the Cowboys can play in FA.
On defense, they might have to take a risk. Spend the FA $$$ on higher-level players (not necessarily high-end, 1st-day signings but the talent you have to lock up in the 1st week or 2 of free agency). That means relying on the middle rounds of the draft for depth, but this team needs viable starters.
A decision on Jaylon is critical, and the returns are not promising.
Otherwise, make at least 5 of their next 6 premium additions (draft and/or free agency) CBs and pass rushers.
If they can supplement Lawrence, Gallimore and Gregory with a 1st or 2nd round pick and a solid FA signing, they could be in decent shape. Hill and Armstrong are a start on adequate depth.
LB is a weird spot for this team. Vander Esch and Jaylon ought to be foundation pieces. But the former hasn't stayed healthy, and the latter hasn't played well. I wonder if Jaylon is just a spot 3-4 pass rusher. LB is a "want," for now, and probably has to stand in line behind DT, DE, CB and S. But they have to be honest in evaluating whether it is a "need."
The secondary is an almost total rebuild. Diggs is a good start, and Wilson shows signs of being an adequate player and potential playmaker given a strong pass rush.
I'd be tempted to roll the dice on signing 1 of the best 1-3 CBs available in FA. Then I'd spend at least 2 of the first 4 draft picks on the secondary, maybe including a 2nd or a 3rd on a S.
Best case, wherever they land in the draft (probably from 3 to 8, or 19 if they miraculously win their horrible division), they can parlay an available QB prospect into a favorable trade down. Seems good QB prospects are scattered through the 1st round, so that isn't a pipe dream.
The Cowboys can write off most offensive woes to incredibly poor luck with injuries. They must face facts on defense. Many of their players aren't good enough and must be aggressively replaced.
No objection to last year's opportunistic choice of Lamb. There can't be distractions in the next draft. If BPA isn't a defensive player, trade back, even at a modest return. Maybe draft the Oregon OT, but only after trading down at least a couple slots. The QB prospects might make it possible.
