What position could we improve to make the greatest impact?

[blumayne38]

Lol...really...using this thread to take shots at our Lbs even though we have lee hitch and ro coming back...come on DT is our obvious first choice and after that rb or safety...i hear you on the injuries...but you can bank on injuries in every team..To the OP an improvement at DT will make this defense top 10-15

 

[Cowboy Brian]

One has to wonder if Prince Stephen of Valley Ranch had our treasury in a state so we could of participated in the N Suh race how we would reflect on our defense with the draft approaching.
IMO we are not going to see the likes of DE we had for 9 years(Lawrence and Hardy are just a shadow of that natural ability), more likely and less difficult to gather in a Pocket Tiger at DT which makes very good DE's look much more productive and talented.
This year in the Draft that means Malcom Brown, Danny Shelton, and of course Leonard Williams. Odds of one of them falling seem remote with three weeks left before the draft. Is it worth a trade up the ladder for one of these lads? If you have one of these guys playing as advertised it solves most of the defensive troubles IMO. Especially with Sean Lee returning with Ro McClain(should be a year to remember).

I stand by my argument last year that adding Suh would've been the single biggest thing we could've done to improve our defense. If we were able to add both Suh and Hardy, I would be calling us the favorites for the SB.

 

[Cowboy Brian]

Let's Bear This in Mind:

Impact DEs may very well be exhausted after the first and MAYBE as far as into the 2nd round with luck. It's important to keep this in mind when a particular round-of-preference is designated for a certain position of need. DTs may last somewhat later but better too soon than too late.

Impact-type RBs are likely to be available well into the 3rd round and possibly beyond. Lotsa good ones.

Impact-type CBs are likely to be available into the middle rounds and even later. They're abundantly available this year.

As scarce as any impact-type (or even efficient) free safeties are concerned, we're familiar with the story there. Good luck finding one at any point in the draft if you're actually proficient enough to detect one.

I agree this is a strong year for CBs. I wouldn't be against bringing in 2 in the first 4 rounds, even despite all of our other needs.

 

[blumayne38]

I agree this is a strong year for CBs. I wouldn't be against bringing in 2 in the first 4 rounds, even despite all of our other needs.

Please no... And in the post i think he means we can probably get quality corners in the later rounds...if i remember correctly richard sherman was selected in the 4th or 5th round...we need to draft whatbwe need and thats guys up front not thw back end

 

[Cowboy Brian]

It all depends how the board breaks, but I think we're a lot more interested in a deep rotation in the defensive front 7 than people might be thinking. We can very easily upgrade two positions in that rotation significantly with the first two picks.

Some people like to say CB is a weakness, but we've only lost Moore while we've added Corey White, get Claiborne back, and are getting Patmon heading into his second year. I think there's almost zero chance we're going to release Carr this season, so we're actually a bit deeper there than we were when the season ended last year. Safety we could definitely use an upgrade, but it's a bad draft for S, and anybody who's a sure improvement will be gone by pick 40 or so.

Offensively, not worried about RB, either way. We need a swing OT and a backup QB. None of those are great-impact moves, and the QB is not coming out of the draft, anyway.

So I'll stick with the front 7 and say that a SAM or a DT make the most sense with the current roster. Though another DE would have limited impact this season but make a ton of sense for next year if and when Hardy walks.

I've been saying this since 2012, but I think this year is a great year to draft a QB late to groom. Perhaps even as early as the third. Some very talented guys who may, under the right coaching, grow into starting quality QBs are available fairly late. If Bryce Petty makes it to us in the third I would be willing to give it a shot.

 

[Cowboy Brian]

Please no...

It doesn't appear Carr or Claiborne will be on this team in 2016, so we should try to make some moves this year, otherwise we will find ourselves in a position similar to when we brought both of them in during the same year, and it didn't work out so great last time.

I think back to the Dez Bryant pick. We didn't really NEED a WR. We had Austin, who had recently emerged, and Roy Williams, as well as some high-upside guys like K. Ogletree. But, it wasn't too difficult to realize we could add another young talented guy to replace Williams, as well as serve as insurance against Austin not continuing his success. It turned out to be a great move. Pre-emptively filling needs is how dynasty's are built.

 

[xwalker]

Each year I think the answer to this question has been very apparent, however with the Hardy signing, I am not so sure it is this year.

I would say improving safety, but without a more reliable NT up-front it doesn't matter who we have back there, so I will have to say the position we can upgrade which will make the biggest impact immediately is nose tackle.

Is this a "if you could have any player" type question or what is realistic?

If it is the any player type question, then Suh or Revis.

If it is what is realistic, then I don't see any difference makers at DT being available. The impact DTs will likely be gone by #27 and the remaining guys might not even be upgrades to what is already on the roster.

There are some CBs like will likely be available that could be upgrades to Carr but I don't know if they will be upgrades in game 1. They will need some time to learn.

In other words, just draft BPA and assume the upgrades were already made with guys like Hardy and getting some guys back healthy like Lee.

 

[blumayne38]

It doesn't appear Carr or Claiborne will be on this team in 2016, so we should try to make some moves this year, otherwise we will find ourselves in a position similar to when we brought both of them in during the same year, and it didn't work out so great last time.

I think back to the Dez Bryant pick. We didn't really NEED a WR. We had Austin, who had recently emerged, and Roy Williams, as well as some high-upside guys like K. Ogletree. But, it wasn't too difficult to realize we could add another young talented guy to replace Williams, as well as serve as insurance against Austin not continuing his success. It turned out to be a great move. Pre-emptively filling needs is how dynasty's are built.

It doesn't appear Carr or Claiborne will be on this team in 2016, so we should try to make some moves this year, otherwise we will find ourselves in a position similar to when we brought both of them in during the same year, and it didn't work out so great last time.

I think back to the Dez Bryant pick. We didn't really NEED a WR. We had Austin, who had recently emerged, and Roy Williams, as well as some high-upside guys like K. Ogletree. But, it wasn't too difficult to realize we could add another young talented guy to replace Williams, as well as serve as insurance against Austin not continuing his success. It turned out to be a great move. Pre-emptively filling needs is how dynasty's are built.

I agree just not 2 in the first 4 rounds part...

 

[DallasEast]

It doesn't appear Carr or Claiborne will be on this team in 2016, so we should try to make some moves this year, otherwise we will find ourselves in a position similar to when we brought both of them in during the same year, and it didn't work out so great last time.

I think back to the Dez Bryant pick. We didn't really NEED a WR. We had Austin, who had recently emerged, and Roy Williams, as well as some high-upside guys like K. Ogletree. But, it wasn't too difficult to realize we could add another young talented guy to replace Williams, as well as serve as insurance against Austin not continuing his success. It turned out to be a great move. Pre-emptively filling needs is how dynasty's are built.

I do not believe a Miles Austin/Dez Bryant analogy fits the inference. Certainly, Austin demonstrated dominance at the position when he was finally given a shot and he was a very good route runner. However, his hands/catching ability was only good and not great. And his hamstrings were a big detriment. Weigh those circumstances against the availability of a Dez Bryant talent waiting to be selected and it would be highly difficult to say drafting Bryant would not have met the criteria of a position need in my opinion.

For instance, I love Sean Lee. Drafting a replacement for Lee before Rolando McClain was acquired through free agency would have met a need for supplementing (middle) linebacker on the roster. Lee's previous injuries would have necessitated strong consideration despite Lee's enormous skill set. Just my opinion.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

I think it's Corner. I am very skeptical that we will have Carr, Motown and OScan all playing this year, much less at a decent level. I don't really feel like there is a great deal behind those three. Pat is promising but I don't know that he is a guy you can put in and expect the level of play it would take to win the division. FS has been a need for years and I would pick Safety if I thought that we were in better shape, depth wise, at Corner.

I think it's CB.

 

[Jenky]

Each year I think the answer to this question has been very apparent, however with the Hardy signing, I am not so sure it is this year.

I would say improving safety, but without a more reliable NT up-front it doesn't matter who we have back there, so I will have to say the position we can upgrade which will make the biggest impact immediately is nose tackle.

Greatest impact?

RB.

How much did the RB position account for the offense last year?

DBs and DL, except in rare cases, make a notable impact in their first year, whereas a RB can transition to the NFL much easier.

Also, there's AP if you want to go that route.

The same formula on offense last year + better defense will WORK.

 

[casmith07]

Each year I think the answer to this question has been very apparent, however with the Hardy signing, I am not so sure it is this year.

I would say improving safety, but without a more reliable NT up-front it doesn't matter who we have back there, so I will have to say the position we can upgrade which will make the biggest impact immediately is nose tackle.

DT, Cornerback Depth, and I'm still going to say linebacker depth until I see them play.

 

[JonJon]

I think it's Corner. I am very skeptical that we will have Carr, Motown and OScan all playing this year, much less at a decent level. I don't really feel like there is a great deal behind those three. Pat is promising but I don't know that he is a guy you can put in and expect the level of play it would take to win the division. FS has been a need for years and I would pick Safety if I thought that we were in better shape, depth wise, at Corner.

I think it's CB.

Unfortunately, this is a bad year to look at safeties. The only one that I would consider would be FS Cody Prewitt from Ole Miss. He is a smart player that has a knack for laying the wood and causing turnovers. Always seems to be around the football. He reminds me of Troy Polamalu in both skill and appearance.

 

[Bullflop]

I agree this is a strong year for CBs. I wouldn't be against bringing in 2 in the first 4 rounds, even despite all of our other needs.

I'd be hesitant not to address our other needs as well as those at CB. One early and one later, let's say around the 6th round or so seems workable to me. Know also that I'm saying this with the expectation of keeping Carr.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

Anything helping the pass rush and I'm going to hope that comes from a DT spot and brings pressure up the middle.

I have no issue going into the season believing that Hardy and a combination of Law and Mincey (Hopefully more Law) can provide quality outside rush. Now I want someone really bringing the heat from the middle.

If we could get that going I would feel pretty good.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

DE all the way

 

[casmith07]

People thinking RB is some pivotal position are buying fools gold. There's a reason nobody in the league pays big dollars for running backs.

 

[Fletch]

LS, Place holder. In that order.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

Each year I think the answer to this question has been very apparent, however with the Hardy signing, I am not so sure it is this year.

I would say improving safety, but without a more reliable NT up-front it doesn't matter who we have back there, so I will have to say the position we can upgrade which will make the biggest impact immediately is nose tackle.

NT!!! I've been praying for one since Dallas went to the 4-3.

 

[CF74]

Unless Josh Brent beasts out this year we need a NT to sure up the front...