By Mark Halpern
Well, another season has come and gone, ending without a Super Bowl appearance. The Cowboys had a good season going 12-5 compared to 6-10 last year. This season was primed for the Cowboys to run the table offensively. However, when you looked at this Offense of Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliot, Amari Cooper, Cee Dee Lamb, and the Offensive Line, injuries didn’t help. The Offense averaged 407 yards a game, and 31 points per game should have been enough to win any game (I will get to why it wasn’t) in the N.F.L. Now the Defense was going to be the question on this team, epically with the new Defensive Coordinator in Dan Quinn. However, the Defense was loaded with talent that was learning a new scheme ended up being the talk of the N.F.L. for most of the season.
The Cowboy’s Defense certainly outshined the Offense. Players like Trevon Diggs set a league-high with 11 interceptions; Micah Parsons was named Defensive rookie of the year and has been in the mention for defensive player of the year, Vander Esch, Demarcus Lawrence, and Randy Gregory, just to name a few caused opposing offenses terrible havoc. The Dallas defense finished 20th in the league this year compared to the 23rd last year. The difference was that this was a new scheme, and injuries plagued the year. The Cowboys won the N.F.C. East but was defeated by the 49ers in the Wild Card game (A game they should have won.) The Player of the year for the Cowboys was Micah Parsons.
There is nothing against trying to keep up with the Joneses, but, as the owners and G.M., they need to look at this seriously. The Dallas offensive line with some good pieces is getting old and more injury-prone. This N.F.L. draft will be a massive opportunity for Dallas to do so. Dallas also must resign Randy Gregory and make it an immediate priority to get out of the way. After his comeback from substance abuse issues, he has shined. Randy is valued at the N.F.L. market rate at $13mil a season. I would go five years, $68million, and make $30 million guaranteed. Even though the Dallas secondary did well, they need a decent number 2 cornerback. Anthony Brown tried to fill those shoes and had an ok season, but he was burned way too many times. I would also look at the Quarterback situation cause as many teams might go offensive and defensive line, there could be another diamond in the rough in the second or third round.
It makes sense when you take what I want to do with the Cowboys. These areas, especially the offensive line, need help, and you can’t always rely on free agency to fill all your problems, or free agency can hinder your salary cap. Draft them young and develop these players. I know what the Rams did and bought and traded for a win-now team. Dallas is in win mode, but they also need to be at the top and be like the New York Yankees of baseball and go back on a Dynasty streak.
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