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The Cowboys are a good football team. Teams don’t luck into three consecutive 12-wins seasons. It takes a talented roster on both sides of the ball and some decent coaching to achieve that rare feat. The Cowboys’ offense finished the 2023 season ranked No. 1 in points scored. The defense finished No. 9.
The Cowboys offense has ranked first, fourth and first, respectively, over the last three seasons. The defense has ranked eighth, sixth and ninth. Given their comparative rankings and the late season defensive collapse, it’s understandable if the Cowboys want to go defense again early in the 2024 NFL draft. But just because a problem doesn’t manifest in points, doesn’t there isn’t one boiling beneath the surface.
The Cowboys offense might have been explosive, but they were also absent in many key games against playoff opponents. Dallas struggled scoring points against teams like Buffalo, Miami, San Francisco and Green Bay. Something has to change between now and next season because simply maintaining the status quo on offense won’t instill much confidence that things will change next postseason.
There’s also a matter of longevity. The Cowboys have been leaning towards defense with their top-100 picks often in recent years. Since 2014 there’s only been two times the Cowboys used more top-100 picks on offense than defense. It’s resulted in an aged unit in need of some high caliber reinforcements.
% of offensive snaps from players in their first 3 years in the NFL:
63% – GB
62%
61%
60%
59%
58%
57%
56%
55% – TB
54%
53% – PIT
52%
51% – NYJ, IND
50% – JAX
49%
48% – CAR, ATL
47%
46%
45% – CHI, LAC
44%
43% – TEN
42% – KC, DET
41% – WAS, LA, NE, SEA
40%
39%
38% – HOU
37%
36% -…— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) February 25, 2024
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The Cowboys once-dominant offensive line is nearing the end. Tyron Smith and Zack Martin could very possibly retire in the near-to-very-near future. Dallas’ middle-round swings in the draft have yet to pan out so popular opinion has them using one, if not two, top-100 picks on the offensive line this year.
With CeeDee Lamb ready to reset the WR market, Dallas needs to find low-cost solutions to populate the WR ranks around him. They’re likely to eat some of the Michael Gallup money and play out the Brandin Cooks contract in 2024, but a high-end draft pick is probably in the cards for the Cowboys sooner rather than later.
The Cowboys churned the roster at RB and now look to roll out brand new personnel in 2024. They took the patient route in the 2023 draft, but no great prospect fell into their lap. Now they need a plug-and-play starter which means they may look at using a top-100 pick to secure it.
The defense has to get better if the Cowboys want to be more than a great regular season team in 2024, but they also need to be better on offense.
After years of some draft pick neglect, it may be time for Dallas to focus their early picks on offense. With any luck, Mike Zimmer and free agency will provide just what the defense needs to facilitate such a shift in draft strategy.