Everyone always looks to free agency and the draft as the main options to improve a team, but perhaps the more important options are second- and third-year role players who are key players, starters, and even stars. I think it's about improving your play by becoming better. Do you agree that this is just as important, if not more so? And which players on the roster should we see make this leap? – David Nystrom/Loudon, Tennessee
Nick Eatman: Well, it has to be more important because there are very few free agents outside of Eric Kendricks. Obviously, the Cowboys are looking for contributions from other areas, and it has to be more than just the next draft. So they have to rely on past drafts, and that's exactly what you're talking about: second and third round picks. Even people who have not been asked to step up in the past will now have to make great achievements. That's nearly the entire 2023 draft class. None of the players have made a big impact, and many players will be required to make big strides. Starting with Mazi and Schoonmaker, then Overshown. All three need to grow significantly. Junior Fehoko has to show something and I think that will be an improvement. The list continues with Asim Richards, Deuce Vaughn, Eric Scott, and Jalen Brooks. But the same goes for Jalen Tolbert, who is currently the No. 3 receiver. And then there's Damone Clarke, Sam Williams and Markys Bell. They all need to help in new ways. This list probably has 10-12 more people. Maybe someone like Juanyeh Thomas. Yes, the Cowboys have had deep, talented rosters in the past, but they were watered down by free agency. It's time to see what depth they actually have.
cart: Strengthening homegrown young players is definitely an important aspect of building a championship roster, especially for a club like the Cowboys who pride themselves on being a draft pick team and a development team. We often hear stories of players making the jump to their second year after training an entire offseason under the guidance of our staff. The same should be expected of the players entering their third season. Ideally, they should be ready to take over as a key contributor, if they haven't already done so. But now, more than ever, Dallas needs to see significant growth from its young players. Maji Smith would probably be at the top of that list, considering he didn't make much of an impact as a first-round pick last season. The same goes for second-rounder Luke Schoonmaker, and indeed the entire 2023 draft class. But one player I think needs to make the leap from promising contributor to true defensive threat is third-year defensive end Sam Williams. He had four sacks in his first season and four and a half in his second season. And that's despite playing just 27 percent and 28 percent of the defensive snaps, respectively. With Dorance Armstrong and Dante Fowler hitting free agency, someone will need to make up for the loss of a combined 11 and a half sacks. Will Williams finally be that guy? Given the flashes he's shown so far, can he step up and deliver a more consistent performance? Williams will definitely need to jump for this defense to be successful.
