Have the Dallas Cowboys improved their roster heading into the 2024 NFL Draft?
According to ESPN’s latest off-season roundup, a bevy of experts voted the Dallas Cowboys as having the worst off-season thus far in the entire NFL.
The Cowboys lost franchise LT, Tyron Smith (Jets), as well as RB Tony Pollard (Titans), C Tyler Biadasz (Commanders), DE Dante Fowler (Commanders), DE Dorance Armstrong (Commanders), CB Noah Igbinoghene (Commanders), DT Jonathan Hankins (Seahawks), DT Neville Gallimore (Dolphins), and LB Leighton Vander Esch (retirement).
“There’s a saying about addition by subtraction … but it doesn’t apply here. The Cowboys appear to have subtracted lead talent during free agency. The backfield now seems lackluster with no free agency move to replace RB Tony Pollard, despite several available experienced options. The loss of OT Tyron Smith complicates matters up front, and while Smith dealt with health issues in recent years, when he was on the field there was no better friend to QB Dak Prescott. Even if the Cowboys consider moving tackle Tyler Smith — and it’s not clear that they will or should — their draft strategy has to prioritize the O-line,” Stephania Bell noted.
ESPN fantasy expert, Eric Moody piggybacked on Bell’s vote for the Cowboys by circling Dak Prescott as a potential issue for the club’s Super Bowl aspirations.
“They have multiple positions that need to be addressed — and there are also legitimate questions surrounding Prescott’s ability to lead them to a Super Bowl. With Prescott’s contract expiring after the 2024 season, uncertainty looms over the team. As the NFL offseason progresses, more questions than answers remain about the Cowboys’ future. Dallas should sign Calais Campbell, who would immediately improve the defensive line and rotation. The locker room would also benefit from his leadership.”
NFL Draft analyst, Jordan Reid was another expert in logging a vote for the Cowboys.
“They have lost key players and have failed to replace them so far. Not re-signing Tyron Smith creates a huge void at left tackle, and allowing Pollard to hit the open market without a succession plan was also questionable. The draft is still yet to happen, but it places a lot of pressure on hitting on those draft picks to replace players that were an integral part of the team’s success.”
Former NFL general manager, Mike Tannenbaum also voted on the Cowboys as having the worst off-season of 2024.
“They still have needs at left tackle, center, running back, defensive tackle and receiver. While a lot of their resources will be tied up in extensions for Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and Micah Parsons, it was surprising not to see them make a move on Henry or AJ Dillon. They deserve credit for outstanding drafting and patience in the past, but they’re going to need an almost perfect draft to fill all of their needs.”
Dallas Cowboys’ Disappointing 2023 Season
All was well in ‘Jerry World’ as the Dallas Cowboys began their season with a 7-2 record, which included a five-game winning streak over the likes of the Philadelphia Eagles, Seattle Seahawks, Washington Commanders, Carolina Panthers, and New York Giants. Despite a few losses to the Eagles, 49ers, and a shocking one in Arizona against the lowly Kyler Murray-less Cardinals, the Cowboys ended the regular season with back-to-back wins over the Jets and Giants to win the NFC East.
Unfortunately for the Dallas Cowboys, history repeated itself when Jerry Jones’ club was throttled by Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Wild Card in their own place, 48-32. After such an embarrassing loss to his old team, it was seemingly a foregone conclusion that Mike McCarthy would be the fall guy for the Cowboys’ short-coming…especially with names like Bill Belichick and Jim Harbaugh on the market.
However, Jerry Jones has other plans as he will keep McCarthy manning the sidelines in 2024, which will certainly be met with mixed reactions by Cowboys fans and foes alike.
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