Cowboys 5 biggest offseason needs aren’t all on defense
The Dallas Cowboys are not that far away from competing for a playoff berth, despite how horrible their 2020 season was. Injuries were catastrophic and the defense was led by an inept effort. I’m not saying Mike Nolan was inept as a defensive coordinator, though I was against the hire from the jump. But the effort that was put into the season, with all things considered was unacceptable. Trying to fit square pegs in round holes with no offseason made little sense and refusing to adjust was frustrating to say the least.
But that’s all in the past. What matters is improving for the 2021 season, and that will take improved personnel on both sides of the ball. Assuming the Cowboys will have Dak Prescott for at least one more season, we’ll keep quarterback off the table in this discussion. But where else will Dallas need to improve the roster? Here’s where.
Speed Receiver
We have a group chat amongst Cowboys bloggers and contributors that is a melting pot of fantastic ideas. On Sunday, my good friend and Cowboys Wire contributor articulated a great point that has been bubbling in my mind for several weeks now. While watching the immense damage being done to the Bills' defense by Mecole Hardman and the incomparable Tyreek Hill, it's clear what Dallas needs. Speed. The Cowboys' offense doesn't really have game-changing speed. Yes, Amari Cooper ran a 4.42 coming out of Alabama, but speed isn't his forte and year after years of lower-body injuries has probably trimmed some of that despite how insanely good he is. Michael Gallup, Tony Pollard, CeeDee Lamb, Cedrick Wilson.. they are all 4.5 and above guys. Dallas doesn't have that burner who can wreck the world. Add that to this uber-talented group, and there is no limit for Kellen Moore's offense. Cooper is signed for four more seasons. CeeDee Lamb is on a rookie contract and is under cheap team control for four more seasons (fifth-year option). Get the speed guy in the system in 2021, put a year under his belt and then he's WR3 when Gallup walks in free agency in 2022.
Free Safety
Quiet as kept, Donovan Wilson was playing free safety for the Cowboys the majority of his snaps in 2020. As the sixth-round pick out of Texas A&M in 2019 proved, he is a playmaker through and through. It was obvious in 2019's preseason and once he was given meaningful snaps in 2020. Interceptions, forced fumbles, fumble recoveries... Wilson is a ball magnet. But his true position is strong safety. Dallas needs to find a true centerfield prospect to pair with him. While the draft class doesn't seem to have a top-tier guy at the position, the scouting department might be able to find such a player on Day 2 or Day 3 of the draft. The more likely scenario though is the Cowboys will need to tap into the free agent market to find success there. Fortunately, there are several players who could fill that role for the club at various price points. We beg, year after year for the Cowboys to stop ignoring the position. Maybe this is the time.
Cornerback
Perhaps the most obvious of the needs, Dallas is watching several of their top corners become free agents in 2021. They had a high grade on Trevon Diggs in 2020 and were fortunate to have him drop to them in the second round so they could scoop up the Alabama product. Now, they need a running mate to pair him with. The consensus is the club would be wise to draft either Patrick Surtain or Caleb Farley, but there's more than one way to skin that cat. Again, free agency might be the way to go here to get to instant credibility and there are plenty of names to consider. The price point is whether the staff believes Diggs is a CB1 or a CB2 and that will determine what is necessary. Honestly, the Cowboys could probably use two high-pedigree corners this offseason.
Defensive Tackle
To paraphrase the late, great Michael Jackson, I'm looking at the man in the middle. Dallas tried to plug the gaping hole in the middle of their defense with two players past their prime. Signing Dontari Poe and Gerald McCoy, the team went cheap in buying the middle of the Carolina Panthers line from 2019 which wasn't very good at stopping the run. McCoy didn't survive training camp and Poe didn't survive the season. It was an abject failure. Now Dallas is back, with a couple young question marks in Neville Gallimore and Trysten Hill. Both flashed, but there's still no idea what the team has in them and the DL coach Jim Tomsula has been shown the door. Aden Durde will get a chance to mold the unit now it will be interesting to see if the club chooses to dive back into the position this offseason. They should. Dan Quinn is a DL coach by nature, so this should now be the pride of the unit. Expect there to be some serious additions made here and with DeMarcus Lawrence and Randy Gregory manning the edge spots, the interior should see one, maybe two additions to the club.
Offensive Lineman
Even assuming Tyron Smith returns for his 142nd season at least left tackle, the line needs more bodies. There are likely more questions than most fans give credit for. Smith may retire or not. La'el Collins is back and Brandon Knight and Terence Steele got experience to be solid depth moving forward. However, a true heir to Smith is probably in order and having a true starting quality swing tackle would be a godsend. Look at how Green Bay's protection got wrecked against Tampa going from Baktiari to Billy Turner. At guard, Zack Martin is the man, and either Connor Williams or (hopefully) Connor McGovern will start at left tackle. But what if Martin is the solution should Smith retire? The team will need another guard. Everyone assumes the club is happy with Tyler Biadasz as the future starting center, so why did Joe Looney start all the games down the stretch? I'm not saying Biadasz doesn't have a bright future, just that it shouldn't be assumed based on how the staff carried things in 2020. So yeah, adding more offensive line talent to the mix is paramount for the club.
