7 Biggest needs the Dallas Cowboys must still address

With free agency winding down for the Dallas Cowboys (many believe it is over), and the draft quickly approaching, let’s look at what the Cowboys still need to address. Granted, the Cowboys could feel better or worse about some of the positions than many fans, analysts, and pundits believe, but we will try to figure it out.

Before free agency, the Dallas Cowboys needed quite a bit, knowing that Amari Cooper was probably gone and Connor Williams was probably on his way out too. There were some expectations from the front office that didn’t pan out due to their perceived price versus market price and in one case, bad feelings.

But we are not going to rehash too much of how the Dallas Cowboys handled free agency as much as the holes they still have. One way or another, the front office needs to figure out how to fill these holes, whether it is scouring the free agents, trades, the draft, or hoping a young player from last year can step up. No matter how they fill the holes, we know there are still several positions that have not really been addressed, either by the front office verbally or by action.

The Dallas Cowboys still have quite a few needs to figure out with the draft coming up, some positions are in higher need than others.

Let’s take a look at the needs in no particular order.

Guard

I think the one positions most people know the Dallas Cowboys have to figure out is the starting left guard position. Currently, Connor McGovern, is projected as the starting left guard, to the chagrin of many. They could project Josh Ball to be the starting left guard, but that would bump swing tackle as a huge need, especially with Tyron’s injury history. If they do not address this position in free agency, the belief is they will address it in the first two rounds of the draft.

Center

Another position on the offensive line is that of center. Tyler Biadasz had a solid first year, but his second season was a step back from what many expected. They could easily roll with Biadasz again, but should a player like Tyler Linderbaum fall, they could draft him and figure out if Biadasz can slide over or they roll with McGovern or a free agent to be named later.

Wide Receiver

Another huge need is a wide receiver, specifically an outside wide receiver to play opposite of Michael Gallup. There is the belief that CeeDee Lamb will move outside, however, he is so dynamic that moving him around is the best use of him to create mismatches. Lamb has supposedly said he wants to play more from the slot, whether that is true or not Lamb and Gallup on the outside with James Washington and Noah Brown as the slot receivers is not optimal. Wide receiver is just a need and any addition will be welcomed. Simi Fehoko and TJ Vasher are deep on the roster, but right now they are relatively unknown commodities.

Tight End

Yes, I know the Cowboys expect Dalton Schultz to be their number one TE, but there are huge questions to the depth of the position behind him. Jeremy Sprinkle, Sean McKeon, and Ian Bunting round out the depth and none of the four are great at blocking. The Dallas Cowboys could use another viable threat at tight end with the ability to block when needed. The draft feels like the spot this year to find one, but it is a sneaky need for this team.

Linebacker

Leighton Vander Esch, Jabril Cox, and Micah Parsons are the starting linebackers, but the depth just is thin with Luke Gifford and Devante Brown as the only other two linebackers on the roster. Should the Cowboys need to use Micah more as a pass rusher, it could open up a bigger need at linebacker than it even is currently. The team tried to use free agency, but felt every player was out of the price range that they wanted. With such a thin group and a need to improve run defense, a linebacker is certainly a position to watch at some point in the draft.

Defensive End

Now that Randy Gregory has moved on to Denver, the Cowboys went out and signed an average Dante Fowler with hopes he can get back to his one really good season in 2019 when playing with the Rams. Injuries have been a concern with Fowler, and behind him and DeMarcus Lawrence, is a lot of unknown and hope players develop. Some hope Chauncey Golston can take a step and that Dorance Armstrong can prove himself with more snaps. Tarell Basham rounds out the defensive ends. Pass rush is still a need and an edge rusher could be earlier in the draft. The Cowboys could decide to move Micah Parsons to edge more often, but that creates other needs they have not addressed.

Defensive Tackle

Without Brent Urban the need for a 1-tech defensive tackle becomes a bigger need than many think. Urban was easily the best run defender on the inside of the line, and without him, the issues the Cowboys had late in the season will rear their head again.

Currently, Trysten Hill, Neville Gallimore, Quinton Bohana, Osa Odighizuwa, Carlos Watkins, Austin Faoliu, and Josiah Bronson round out an average defensive interior. At the very least the Cowboys have to find more help to stop the run. More consistent pressure up the middle could help the pass rush, but for now, stopping the run is the bigger need.

The above list is some of the more pressing needs for this roster as it currently sits. Cornerback and safety are always options for the draft, and without knowing what they really have in second-round pick from last year Kelvin Joseph, there are some questions lingering. Similarly, offensive tackle is a need, but the team feels Terence Steele and Tyron Smith are cemented as the starters with Josh Ball and Isaac Alarcon as the backups.

Quarterback depth is always something to churn and while it seems that Cooper Rush is entrenched as the backup, the team could upgrade from Will Grier and Ben Dinucci pretty easily. Running back depth is another possible late-round pick as Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard are the top two without much question.

The Dallas Cowboys do have JaQuan Hardy, Rico Dowdle, and the mix of Sewo Olonilua and Nick Ralston rounding out the depth could stay as-is.

There is still some time before the draft, and there are always some money-saving dumps after the draft and post-June 1 cuts for the team to look to, but there are quite a few needs to fill. The draft will answer some questions, if they can get three solid starters year one to fill some of the needs it would be a home run of a draft.

With only a few weeks to go, the Cowboys could pigeonhole themselves into some positions earlier in the draft. Luckily, they don’t need to find a starting quarterback, so there is that.