The new league year officially begins Wednesday with the arrival of free agency. As expected, the Dallas Cowboys held tight and did nothing as the market opened and their fans grew increasingly frustrated and anxious for the front office to do something.
Linebacker, running back, offensive line, wide receiver, defensive line and cornerback are all major areas the Cowboys need to fill before the draft begins. Many big names have already come off the market and signed contracts with various teams. Additionally, the Cowboys lost Tony Pollard, Tyler Biadasz, Dorance Armstrong, and Dante Fowler, creating an even bigger hole on the roster. So what is the order of need for the Cowboys right now?
Offensive line:
Officially, Tyron Smith is still playing. He hasn't signed with another team yet, but you have to wonder if concerns about his durability are making teams nervous. Still, he hasn't re-signed and there's still a chance the Cowboys need a new left tackle. The center situation worsened with the loss of Tyler Biadasz, but if the team deems Brock Hoffman to be the right fit for the job, he will be on the roster. In fact, the team needs an offensive line no matter what. It's the inside linemen and tackles.
Linebacker:
Without a doubt, this is a huge need. Without Leighton Vander Esch on the team, there could be a hole. Marquise Bell will likely play more of a safety role next season, especially if Jaylon Kearse is on the move, which is likely. That means the only really quality linebackers on the roster are Damone Clark and the recovering DeMarvion Overshawn. Run-stopping was an issue last year, and the loss of Vander Esch could make it even worse.
Run back:
Tony Pollard left for Tennessee, and Rico Doodle has yet to re-sign with Dallas due to his contract expiring. That means the running back corps currently consists of Malik Davis, Deuce Vaughn, and Hunter Luepke. That's not enough. All major targets were signed, including Derrick Henry. One of his players still available on the market is Ezekiel Elliott.
Cornerback:
Some will say a cornerback is never needed, but if you look beneath the surface, it's a sneaky need. How will Trevon Diggs look this year after his ACL recovery? What will happen to Daron Brand after next season? Who will fill the third cornerback position if Stephon Gilmore or Jordan Lewis don't return? There are problems all over the place in this position.
Defense line:
Depth appears to be thinning after losing defensive ends Dorance Armstrong and Dante Fowler. Last year, the Cowboys had a bag of riches at the position. To that extent, they could have traded players to still be in good shape at the pass rusher position. This season has left us with more questions than answers. DeMarcus Lawrence is getting older and Sam Williams is still relatively unknown. This means Chauncey Golston, Junior Fehoko, and Tyrus Wheat could have bigger roles, and since Jonathan Hankins hasn't re-signed, Madge Smith could play a role. Become. Defensive line issues and linebacker needs, a bad combination.
Wide receiver:
This is also a sneaky need. Michael Gallup has a lot of money on the cap and he is said to be free to find his future within the league, so the team knows they need to find a third receiver. means. Sure, you can throw Jalen Tolbert and Jalen Brooks into the mix, but they still need improvement. But the big question is, what are the plans beyond next season with Brandin Cooks gone, or worse, what if the Cowboys lose CeeDee Lamb for a game or two? So who is targeting at wide receiver? Receivers are a big part of the need this year, and looking at the cap situation, that need is quickly rising in the rankings.
