The Dallas Cowboys didn’t get better this offseason and that’s OK

From a talent perspective, there’s no question the Dallas Cowboys took a step back this season. Amari Cooper was replaced with rookie Jalen Tolbert (or is it James Washington). Randy Gregory was replaced with rookie Sam Williams (or is Dante Fowler). La’el Collins and Connor Williams were replaced on the roster with rookies Matt Waletzko and Tyler Smith (or is it…never mind…).

Proven players went out, and unproven players came in. It was a calculated step back that will hopefully pay off in the future.

This isn’t meant to disparage the rookies that have been brought in to replace said veterans. In most of the above cases, the veterans underperformed. They were good players, but they fell short of the expectations of their contract. That’s a big reason why they’re gone.

It’s safe to say, rookies rarely hit the ground performing at Pro Bowl standards. And Pro Bowl standards is what the expectations were for the now-dismissed veterans above. So saying it’s a “step back” this season isn’t pessimism, it’s realism.

On paper, the Dallas Cowboys downgraded the talent on their roster but that doesn’t mean the team isn’t better off

Does this spell doom for the Dallas Cowboys franchise? Of course not. The ebbs and flows of an NFL roster saw more good players going out than coming in here in Dallas, that’s all. That doesn’t mean the Cowboys will automatically take a step back as a team or be any less successful down the road. In fact, this means good things for “down the road.”

The Dallas Cowboys ripped a Band-Aid off, of sorts. They made subtractions to players who no longer figured into their long-term future. They cleared the deck and set themselves up to be more nimble in 2023 when they will very likely be making a coaching change (the writing is on the wall).

In the meantime, they brought in a slew of talented replacements. If the minicamps are any indication, the rookies look to be as good as advertised.

The Dallas Cowboys aren’t as talented in 2022 as they were in 2021. That’s a hard assessment to refute. But they could still be a better team, both this year and down the road. Sometimes it’s not about the most talented or the most proven players – it’s about the right players and the right combinations.

2022 looks to be one big assessment. The Cowboys are throwing a lot of spaghetti against a wall to see what sticks. Those that do, will be built around next year. Those that don’t, it’s simply no big deal. The Cowboys didn’t make major financial commitments so the consequences are minimal.

This doesn’t mean the Cowboys are punting on the season either. They may not be going “all in” like many of us wanted, but they haven’t given up either. Even though they churned the roster and are assessing unproven replacements, they have a great chance at repeating as NFC East champions in 2022.

It’s not always clear how to feel about a football team heading into the season. We want to either be really excited or really upset but this season seems to be walking right down the middle.

But it sets the Dallas Cowboys up for a great 2023 season while still maintaining hopes for 2022, so it’s enormously effective, even if it’s a little lacking in excitement.

• Published on 06/09/2022 at 22:01 PM
• Last updated at 06/09/2022 at 12:43 PM