Dallas Cowboys strengths and weaknesses for 2022 and beyond
We are now halfway through the Dallas Cowboys 2022 season, but before we start the second half, let’s look at what we’ve learned, and what the Cowboys could need for next season.
This exercise might seems early, but the college football season is already winding down which means the long journey for the 2023 Draft is already upon us. As Sport DFW’s resident draft guru, I feel a personal obligation to get Cowboys Nation up to speed and prepped in this lull before the storm.
Before I get into this, I won’t make any assumptions about who the Dallas Cowboys keep, who they sign in free agency, or any of the draft-eligible players. This is simply a look at where the roster is today, where it could be by the end of the season, and what they could need once this season ends (hopefully with a Super Bowl).
A proactive Dallas Cowboys 2022-2023 needs assessment
We know the Cowboys are looking at Odell Beckham Jr., but as of writing this, he has not signed, and I will move forward without him, or any other WR addition, on the roster.
Dallas Cowboys needs assessment: WR position
Perhaps the biggest need for the rest of this season, and in 2023, is wide receiver. One thing is clear – the Dallas Cowboys do not seem content with their corps as it is now.
The offense is missing two things at the receiver position, speed and route-running. Some may also say size, and while I tend to agree, I think if they had more speed or an elite route runner it could help the size need.
While CeeDee Lamb has played solid enough, there are still questions whether he is in that top echelon of NFL WRs. Michael Gallup has been up and down, maybe due to the injury or maybe due to the players around, but he’s not where he needs to be.
Noah Brown has played really well given his preseason expectations. Jalen Tolbert, Simi Fehoko, and KaVontae Turpin have been used very sparingly this season so it’s hard to determine anything regarding their futures. Fehoko has the size and speed, but the route running still needs a lot of work. Turpin has the speed, but it doesn’t seem like they trust him to play a lot of snaps at wide receiver.
Jalen Tolbert is the big wild card of the group. Many felt he would step in and be able to help the Dallas Cowboys day one, but after the Cowboys said they “gave him too much”, he just hasn’t been able to see the field. Regardless of how Tolbert develops, the Cowboys could always use another wide receiver.
Dallas Cowboys needs assessment: RB position
Running back has been good this year. Tony Pollard is the home run threat the Dallas Cowboys so desperately need. Ezekiel Elliott, it seems, has landed in the role of the back who breaks down defenses to set up longer runs later in the game.
Barring injury, the Cowboys will be fine here in 2022. The usage rate of each player has to get re-examined, but next year the Cowboys could be looking for a makeover because Pollard is a free agent and Zeke is financially expendable (an out in his contract).