Dallas Cowboys: What the Cowboys Need this Offseason

With the offseason rolling along for the Dallas Cowboys, we assess what some of the needs of the team will be before free agency and the draft.

The Dallas Cowboys have some huge decisions to make and some huge holes to fill this offseason The first of which starts with the team signing Dak Prescott.

Once Dak’s deal is in place, the Cowboys can fully assess their other needs. Most of the needs are on defense, but there are a few pieces that could be used on offense.

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Looking on the offensive side of the ball, the Cowboys could very well need an offensive tackle. I know people will hate to hear this, but Tyron Smith is 30 and coming off surgery, and La’el Collins had weight issues and a hip issue.

Adding in the loss of Cameron Erving and the offensive tackle position needs help. There is also a belief the Cowboys will need to fix one of the guard positions (which isn’t the direr of need), so that’s one to keep an eye on. The last potential need is wide receiver should the team decide to try and trade Michael Gallup.

However, the real issues are on defense. Arguably the Cowboys need every single position on defense. With decisions on Chidobe Awuzie, Jourdan Lewis, and CJ Goodwin, the Cowboys may place themselves in a need of a starting outside corner with Anthony Brown staying on as the slot corner. Diggs looks like he will be a really good starting corner, but should the Cowboys decide to let all the corners walk, it might be one of the biggest needs on the team.

Speaking of the secondary, the Cowboys still need safeties. I know, but what about Donovan Wilson? Wilson was hit or miss this year in coverage and while he made some great plays on the ball, he was not consistent in coverage allowing almost a 67% completion rate against him. Xavier Woods is to be a free agent, and that means the Cowboys are looking for at least one safety, and possibly two if they feel Wilson isn’t what they want in coverage.

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Moving toward the line, the linebackers are another issue, but one that isn’t as easy to answer. Without a good defensive line in front of them, the linebackers are a problem that may or may not get filled this season. Should the team decide to let Jaylon go post-June 1, then the need goes up but can get filled pretty easily in the middle of the draft. Should the Cowboys keep Jaylon, then the need probably drops a bit.

The last big need is on the defensive line. The Cowboys have more than enough 3-technique defensive tackles on the team but they really lack a bigger body to help stop the run and get pressure up the middle. A defensive tackle is a bigger need than some may realize, but it is a need.

At the edge position, the Cowboys need depth. Randy Gregory and DeMarcus Lawrence are solid starters, but after them, there is not a lot. The team could keep Aldon Smith, but as the season wore on, Smith started to disappear.

So for the record, the Cowboys need an offensive tackle, guard, and maybe a wide receiver of offense. On defense, the team needs at least one safety, two corners, a defensive tackle, defensive end depth, and linebacker depth. Some will be filled with re-signing some of their free agents, some will come from outside free agents, and the rest will come from the draft. A huge offseason is looming and it needs to start with signing Dak Prescott now.

• Published on 01/19/2021 at 17:01 PM
• Last updated at 01/19/2021 at 08:02 AM