Dallas Cowboys: The Cowboys need to add this missing link

The Dallas Cowboys are a very young and talented, but they need this missing link to take them to the next level.

Before the start of the 1992 season, the Dallas Cowboys traded for elite pass rusher Charles Haley.

Then head coach Jimmy Johnson understood the value of Haley’s services and had this to say about the trade for Haley.

“I think everybody understands the last couple of years we have been looking for a pass rusher,” Jimmy Johnson said. “We felt we had improved our defense significantly over the last couple of years, and I think this undoubtedly will make it even better. He will have an immediate impact on our pass rush.”

Haley had an immediate impact for the Cowboys, as he anchored the team’s vaunted pass rush to the tune of three Super Bowl victories in a four-year span.

With Haley coming to the Cowboys, it will go down as one of the best trades in NFL history, mainly because the Dallas Cowboys reaped the benefits of winning three Lombardi trophies.

But what Johnson doesn’t get enough credit for is having the foresight and wisdom to acquire the final piece of the Cowboys dynasty.

At the time, the young Cowboys were seen as a year or two away from competing for a Super Bowl title. They were young and talented but were not seen as a threat to dethrone the powerful San Francisco 49ers.

We all know the Cowboys did exactly that during their dynasty years, defeating the 49ers in two consecutive NFC championships games. But it would not have been possible if not for Johnson trading for Haley.

If the Dallas Cowboys want to get back to the Super Bowl, this team needs to find a veteran to help them get back to the promise land.

Whether it is signing a veteran or a group of veterans, this team needs a player or two with the moxie to help them get over the proverbial hump.

The Cowboys have the talent in all the right places, but they could use the services of a veteran to play either safety or linebacker.

When it comes to the linebacker position, the Dallas Cowboys should look at signing veteran linebacker Mychal Kendricks, who was released by the Philadelphia Eagles last week. Kendricks is a really good player and played a key role in the Eagles defense during their Super Bowl run.

Currently, the Cowboys linebacking corps consists of often injured Pro Bowler Sean Lee, Jaylon Smith, and rookie Leighton Vander Esch. The jury is still out on Smith and Vander Esch is…well.. a rookie.

It’s a lot of uncertainty in that group, and Kendricks would be more than a safety valve if one of the aforementioned players were to go down with an injury (which is highly likely).

Kendricks can make plays and be a key contributor on Dallas’ defense.

Even if Lee and Smith can stay healthy for the entire season, Kendricks is a player that will only make the Cowboys linebacking corps one of the best in the NFL. How can Dallas pass up the opportunity and not sign him? (I bet Bill Belichick and the Patriots will sign him).

If Dallas doesn’t sign Kendricks, they should sign linebacker NaVorro Bowman, another notable free agent who will hit anything moving. He’ll be a major contributor and another savvy veteran to lean on.

A lethal combination of Bowman or Kendricks joining Lee, Smith, and LVE will be a deadly force in the NFC East.