Cowboys: Smoke Screens and Other Truths
The Dallas Cowboys are offering their best in terms of screens, bluffs and filling holes during a quiet offseason.
This offseason hasn’t exactly gone the way the Dallas Cowboys have wanted. They have missed on pass rushers, cornerbacks, running backs, and even a backup quarterback here and there. Sure, the team doesn’t want to overpay for players, but with the flurry of re-signings, free-agent visits, and draft players in for visits, there are some truths, or maybe smoke screens, or maybe none of the above.
There are without a doubt some holes that the Cowboys need to fill. With cornerback Patrick Robinson looking like he could sign and running back Alfred Morris up in the air, both moves only address some of the issues with the roster. There is still the question of what to do about what looks to be one of the worst pass rushes in the league, backup quarterback, and linebacker.
But what does this all mean looking ahead at the draft?
Well, the simple answer is no one really knows. At this time in the offseason not a ton of questions have been answered and teams are trying to get a read of who will be available when it is their time to pick and who still might be cut. If Robinson is signed it doesn’t mean the end of the road for Brandon Carr, but it could mean a huge pay cut. If that happens, then cornerback might not be such a need in the first round of the draft.
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If Morris is signed then the running back corps looks like Darren McFadden, Lance Dunbar, and Morris. Not a bad trio, but does this mean that Ezekiel Elliott is out of the mix with the fourth-overall pick? Not necessarily, but it might be a small sign that the Cowboys will wait another year for their next big running back, or, maybe later in the draft.
While many fans and experts think the Cowboys should draft a quarterback at No. 4, I am in the camp that none of the quarterbacks in this year’s draft are a lock. That means drafting a quarterback fourth-overall, paying him first round money to sit on the bench for a few years, and he may not even be the future. Not to mention the Cowboys have high hopes for Kellen Moore as backup quarterback, and what about Jameill Showers?
This brings everything to the defense. With all of the moves made, the Cowboys still have the most glaring needs on defensive line. Picking fourth in the first round means they can go with best player available and need all in one. This all points to either Joey Bosa or DeForest Buckner as the first round pick of the Cowboys. Wait, what about Myles Jack? He fills a need and would be considered the best player available.
While it remains to be seen what the Cowboys will actually be able to do in free agency before the draft, there are a lot of signs pointing to defensive line or linebacker. While there are a lot of people in love with Jalen Ramsey, his lack of turnover production might scare off some teams. Even if he is the best cornerback in the draft, you can’t leave him to cover when the quarterback has all day to throw. It doesn’t matter how good he is, he will get beat.
It shouldn’t surprise anyone that the Cowboys brought in Dak Prescott for a look at quarterback. At this point teams kick the tires and see who is available at all positions. It could be a smoke-screen that they are thinking of drafting a quarterback, or maybe if the right trade comes Dallas could trade down. Maybe Prescott is the best player available at wherever ever they trade down to.
The truth is the Cowboys have a lot of holes to fill, and at this point I think the safe money is on the defensive side of the ball in the draft. Now, this could change depending on who gets signed, who gets cut, and who gets injured. If Morris doesn’t sign the pick could just as easily be Elliot. None of the picks at this point wouldn’t be wanted or needed.
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Now we wait for the smoke to settle and watch the moves the Cowboys make. Carr staying could be a sign they don’t feel a cornerback is the best option at the fourth selection. Morris signing could mean they think running back isn’t the fourth pick either. Then again, they could just confuse us all and take Sheldon Rankins at defensive tackle. Who knows, but for now watch for the bluffs, because the truths won’t be seen until the draft rolls around.