2024 NFL Offseason Primer: Dallas Cowboys

dallas cowboys

Projected cap space: -$12.9 million

Draft picks: 7

• 1st place (No.24)
• 2nd place (No.56)
• 3rd place (No.87)
• 5th place (No.173, Comp)
• 6th place (No.213, Comp)
• 7th place (No.231, LV)
• 7th place (No.242)

Notable free agents:

Top 3 needs

1 – Offensive line

Dallas' offensive success over the past few years has started up front. The Cowboys have always had one of the best offensive lines in football, and their down years are usually matched by a decline in quality up front. For 2024 they still have G zach martin As one of the best in the game and as an office lady tyler smithwas outstanding his first two years at either left tackle or left guard.

Start RT Terrence Steele While not as good as those two, he's still an above-average starter at right tackle and is on a contract with a guaranteed salary. he's not going anywhere. The Cowboys are set to lose their starting left tackle and center to free agency, and will need to fill those holes if they are to remain one of the best units in the league.

Fortunately for the Cowboys, they have several options at left tackle, as Tyler Smith has already shown he's willing to take on Tyron Smith at times. Finding a starting interior lineman is also easier than starting blindside tackle, but Smith's flexibility gives the Cowboys plenty of options if the opportunity to be the starting left tackle falls into their lap. I'll give it.

Dallas likely would like to re-sign Biadasz if the price is right, but with limited resources this offseason, they will have to make some difficult choices. Fortunately, this is a good year to need a center, with plenty of highly rated draft picks and plenty of free agent options. This is another factor that could help hold on to Biadas if his market isn't as strong as he hopes.

2 – Wide receiver

The Cowboys have one of the best receivers in the NFL. Cedee Lamb And they probably need to give him a contract that reflects that this offseason — especially since it could actually give them more cap space. Dynamic with QB duck prescott Prescott is similar, except it probably costs twice as much and has much more leverage.

Prescott had an MVP-caliber season in 2023, but his performances have shown him to be somewhat sensitive to the quality of the supporting cast around him throughout his career. All signs point to Dallas extending him, but they also have to look to make sure he has the weapons to remain productive. Prescott was throwing well to Lamb, but WR brandin cooksTe jake ferguson and W.R. Michael Gallup There is no guarantee that last season will be enough. Cooks and Gallup are both candidates for cuts. Gallup hasn't been well since a knee injury a few years ago, and Cooks' production has slowed since he entered his 30s.

Moving both players would give the Cowboys a chance to make their receiver corps younger, cheaper and more dynamic. In recent years, more receivers have been able to make an impact right out of college, but overall it's still a difficult transition.

3 – Defensive Tackle

Dallas' upset loss in the playoffs exposed major deficiencies on defense. While he has been one of the best in the NFL over the past few years, he was too light in 2023, especially around the middle. Injuries at linebacker forced the Cowboys to rely more on modified safeties and dime packages, further exacerbating the problem.

The Cowboys anticipated this to some degree and tried to avoid it by using a first-round pick on DT. Maji Smith Last year, Smith wasn't ready to contribute much as a rookie. Dallas isn't going to give up on him, but he needs to have a replacement. new DC mike zimmer It is also expected to change some points with a different scheme than the previous DC Dan Quinnand Dallas has some pending free agents who may or may not stay.

I have one big question.

What does being “all in” look like for the Cowboys, and will that be enough to get them over the hump?

After three straight years of unscrupulous playoff losses, many in the NFL had high expectations for the Cowboys' ownership. jerry jones Unplug HC mike mccarthy And go after one of the big-time coaches available. That didn't happen, and McCarthy will be back for another year, albeit at the end of his current contract.

The stakes are always high in Dallas, but this year they seem higher than ever. The Cowboys will have some attrition, but they are entering a new phase of team building with several star players out on cheap rookie contracts and perhaps a new contract with Prescott. However, they still have the talent to make a splash in 2024, and Jones said they will be more aggressive and “all in” this year than in previous years.

Jones says a lot, so let's take a look at what he means by “full power.” He's the owner and general manager, and despite their reputation as a loose cannon, the Cowboys have one of the more traditional front offices in terms of how they operate philosophically. They like to develop through the draft. There, he quietly achieved outstanding results under the direction of the Vice President of Player Personnel. Will McCray — is conservative when it comes to trades and doesn't like to push out large amounts of cap space into future seasons with gaps.

Will the certainty of a Super Bowl, perhaps in another year, change that? More importantly, can this team finally get to the top? You can see that.