Dallas Cowboys must decide between Michael Gallup and BPA in the Draft

As the Dallas Cowboys build their draft board, it’s important they keep things in the proper perspective. I think we can all agree, making the best decision for today, is not always the best decision for tomorrow. When making draft decisions, it’s important to weigh all possible variables in order to come to the best possible final decision.

Sometimes that works out and sometimes it doesn’t. What’s important is you do everything within your power to make the smartest move possible. With a top-10 pick, the stakes are high. The Dallas Cowboys first pick in the draft is their best shot at adding cornerstones talent to the franchise. They can’t afford to be short-sighted or they may come to regret it sooner, rather than later.

The Dallas Cowboys may have to choose between Michael Gallup and the top player on their board.

The way the first round in the 2021 NFL Draft is shaping up, the top player on the Cowboys board at Pick 10 is going to be an offensive player. Chances are good so will the second, and maybe even the third. The draft this year is an offense-rich top-15. That’s great for a team looking to add offensive firepower, but not so great to a team like the Dallas Cowboys who desperately need defensive talent.

So by potentially passing over WR this year, we’re letting a very short term situation (Gallup’s existence) dictate the long term health of the franchise.

Assuming Dak Prescott is back, the Cowboys are returning arguably the best offense in the NFL. Their defense, on the other hand, is operating at the other end of the spectrum. The Dallas D needs interior defensive line help (at both spots) linebacker help (at both primary spots) at outside cornerback, and at free safety.

At the end of the day, the Dallas Cowboys need at least four defensive starters this offseason and chances are all of them will have to come via the 2021 NFL Draft.

The Problem at Hand

If Dallas opts to use their top pick in the draft on defense, there’s a good chance they’ll be reaching for need. That should scare everyone because Dallas doesn’t have the greatest track record at drafting defense as it is. If you ask them to start reaching on top of it? Yikes.

Some accuse the #Cowboys of neglecting their D over recent years. But the past 5 drafts, Dallas has steadily invested their best draft capital on D. They've used 9 of their 14 top-100 picks those years on D. That's not neglect. It's just bad player evaluation. #CowboysNation
— Reid D Hanson (@ReidDHanson) January 22, 2021

Contrary to popular opinion, the Dallas Cowboys haven’t been neglecting defense at all. In fact, they’ve invested considerably more of their top picks on defense than they have on offense. The problem is they pick the wrong players. Whether they are drafting primarily for need (like Taco and Trysten), or drafting low value positions (like Jaylon and LVE), or just miscasting players into ill-fitting roles (Chido and Lewis), the Dallas Cowboys have botched their defensive picks.

light. Related Story. No, the Cowboys aren't neglecting defense

What does this have to do with Michael Gallup?

There’s a chance one of the top three WRs in this class makes it to Dallas at Pick 10. But with all the top WR spots filled on the Cowboys, the temptation will be to pass over the position and reach for defense.

The problem with that logic is 2021 will be Michael Gallup’s last year under contract with the Dallas Cowboys. With CeeDee Lamb, Amari Cooper, and Blake Jarwin all locked in for at least the next three years, it’s highly unlikely Dallas re-signs Gallup. Sure, they could cut Amari and re-sign Gallup next year, but after Amari’s brilliant season in 2020, I think that’s pretty unlikely.

So by potentially passing over WR this year, we’re letting a very short term situation dictate the long term health of the franchise.

The Dallas Cowboys have a tough decision to make. Do they ignore their biggest needs so they can add the best player or should they ignore the best player(s) and draft a position they need right now? Keep in mind, the smart answer today may not be the smart answer the next 2-10 years.