Cowboys Secondary is in Greater Need But Pass-Rusher Must Take Priority
By Reid Hanson
The Dallas Cowboys need to draft two if not three defensive backs next week in the NFL Draft but it’s pass-rusher that must be the top priority.
The Dallas Cowboys are in bad shape in their secondary. They lost Brandon Carr, Morris Claiborne, Barry Church, and J.J. Wilcox in free agency last month. Between the four, that amounts to 2,656 snaps that must be replaced. And to put that into perspective, the Cowboys’ defense played a total of 1,058 snaps on the season.
2,656 snaps is a considerable amount to replace, especially considering the Cowboys only added cornerback Nolan Carroll and safety Robert Blanton in free agency. They both help but let’s face it — they’re best served as role players.
No matter what talent the Cowboys add to the secondary this weekend, it won’t be enough to stop a passer like Aaron Rodgers.
What the Dallas Cowboys need in the secondary are starters. At the very least they need a starting cornerback to join Orlando Scandrick and Anthony Brown in the nickel defense. And while many think Kavon Frazier and Jeff Heath will be up to the challenge of replacing the departed Barry Church and J.J. Wilcox, getting another safety remains must at some point this weekend.
Despite all of those needs, getting an impact edge rusher must remain the priority. Here’s why…
The History
Everyone knows how the Dallas Cowboys were bounced out of the playoffs the past two attempts: Aaron Rodgers picked them apart. Behind his vastly underrated offensive line, Rodgers surgically dissected the Cowboys defense despite very respectable coverage.
Given the time, any somewhat-competent passer can complete a pass – even against the tightest of coverage. An unhurried passer will always, I repeat, ALWAYS have the advantage. The Cowboys could have had Richard Sherman out there and the results would have been no different.
That’s why upgrading the pass-rush is paramount this offseason. No matter what talent the Cowboys add to the secondary this weekend, it won’t be enough to stop a passer like Aaron Rodgers. He, and any other playoff-caliber QB, must be hit, hurried, and sacked into submission.
Related Story: Why the Cowboys Don't Need a 'War Daddy'
No War Daddy, No Problem
Something I discussed on Friday is the overblown value of having a “war daddy”. While double-digit sacks are nice, they’re nothing but season totals. Finding a player capable of situational dominance is the most important thing.
Having a rotation isn’t glamorous but if it can produce timely results then it’s just as good, if not better, than having a war daddy.
The Dallas Cowboys have a strong rotation that finished with 36 sacks (better than league average) but they didn’t have an edge player capable of producing down the stretch. The only current player capable of potentially dominating the right edge is Randy Gregory. And we all know he isn’t going to be playing any time soon.
They can fix that in the first round of the draft.
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Edge Players
I’m not breaking news by saying this year’s draft is unusually strong in the pass-rusher department. It’s not often edge rushers like Charles Harris, T.J. Watt, Takkarist McKinley, Derek Burnett, and Taco Charlton are possibilities at pick 28. All of them are stunning options in their own right and capable of being NFL stars in the right situation.
That’s where the Cowboys must turn their attention.
This doesn’t mean the Cowboys can ignore the secondary completely. As mentioned in the opening, they need to find multiple players capable of starting in the secondary as well. Free agency even has a few options left if the draft doesn’t complete that task.
But without upgrading the pass-rush, the narrative that ended the Cowboys’ seasons in 2014 and 2016 will repeat. It’s only the pass-rush that can change it and that’s why the pass-rush must take priority.
Next: Richard Sherman makes sense to the Cowboys if...
The Dallas Cowboys must draft an edge player in the first round if they hope to advance in the playoffs. No 1 cornerbacks will be available in the second and even third round of this year’s draft. The same cannot be said for pass-rushers.