Dallas Cowboys: Best Player Available No Longer an Option
By Reid Hanson
With suspensions looming for Randy Gregory and DeMarcus Lawrence, the Dallas Cowboys have little choice but to aggressively pursue defensive ends in the 2016 NFL Draft.
The Dallas Cowboys have lost the luxury of just drafting the Best Player Available (BPA)in next week’s draft. Team needs have become too dire to do so.
Randy Gregory, less than one year into his professional career, has failed enough drug tests to warrant a 4-game suspension. Now it appears the situation at defensive end has gotten exponentially worse…
The Dallas Cowboys, already tragically thin on the edge, are likely to be without both of their starting bookends to start the season. According to reports by ESPN, Demarcus Lawrence will be joining Gregory on the suspension list this season.
the State of the Dallas Cowboys is not well. Both Randy Gregory and DeMarcus Lawrence are one failed test away from one-year suspensions.
Lost in the worry of Randy Gregory’s well-documented drug issues was DeMarcus Lawrence’s silent struggle happening in the background. Lawrence, the Cowboys’ 2-year vet, has apparently failed four drug tests himself and now finds himself in the same position as his talented linemate, Gregory.
Suspended.
DeMarcus Lawrence had a bit of a breakout year for the Dallas Cowboys last season. After a promising but injury-slowed rookie season, Lawrence found his groove in the 2015 season’s second half, leading the team in sacks (8) and serving as the only returning threat on the edge.
The Cowboys have made little effort to upgrade their already-poor pass-rush this offseason. In fact, they have made a conscience effort to let two veterans go. Jeremy Mincey and Greg Hardy were allowed to leave, largely uncontested, and both remain unsigned at the moment. It’s been clear the Dallas Cowboys wanted to move on from Mincey and especially Hardy, but given the most recent revelations, their future with the Dallas Cowboys may need to be reconsidered.
Related Story: Beggars Can't be Choosers: The Cowboys Must Re-sign Greg Hardy
Armed only with Benson Mayowa, David Irving, Jack Crawford, Ryan Russell, and Mike McAdoo, the Dallas Cowboys are dangerously thin in the talent department. Their current stable may prove to be solid rotational players, but they are far from starting quality at this point in their development.
Know this: the State of the Dallas Cowboys is not well. Both Randy Gregory and DeMarcus Lawrence are one failed test away from one-year suspensions. Placing a premium on the defensive end position in the draft isn’t just a need in 2016, but it’s a need for the foreseeable future.
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Like Rolando McClain, Randy Gregory and DeMarcus Lawrence can no longer be trusted as cornerstone players. Their irresponsible behavior has made trust impossible and the Cowboys must adjust accordingly. Dallas needs to address DE in the draft now, more than ever.
It’s no longer a question of who they’ll draft with the #4 pick.
It simply has to be Joey Bosa at this point. He may not be the best player available, but he’s not a reach either. The only question facing the Dallas Cowboys now, is which DE are they going to draft at the top of the second round.
Next: DE Joey Bosa is a No-Brainer for the Cowboys
There are a couple courses of action available to the Dallas Cowboys. They could trade back and maximize picks, they could bite the bullet and re-sign Jeremy Mincey and Greg Hardy, or they can just ignore the defensive deficiencies and double-down on offense. No matter how you look at, though, the Dallas Cowboys are in a very bad way because of Lawrence and Gregory.