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The Dallas Cowboys had a remarkable 11-4 season. They ended up one catch away from making an appearance in the NFC Championship game; something that team hadn’t done since 1996. With free agency in full effect, the Cowboys have been relatively quiet and have had more departures than signings… especially on the defensive side of the ball.
Linebacker Bruce Carter left for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on a four-year $17M contract. Linebacker Justin Durant departed for the Atlanta Falcons, signing to a thre3-year, $10M deal and defensive tackle Henry Melton left to reunite with Bucs head coach Lovie Smith in Tampa on a one-year agreement. There are a lot of defensive holes that need to be filled in Dallas.
What should be the focus for the Cowboys in the 2015 NFL draft?
Here are four positions that need to be addressed:
5. Cornerback: the Cowboys claimed the New Orleans Saints’ defensive back Corey White off of waivers this week. At 6’1″, 205 lbs., the 2012 fifth-round selection is the ideal size for his position with a low cost and high reward. With so much uncertainty surrounding Brandon Carr and Morris Claiborne, this should be an area to which Dallas looks to add young, talented depth.
4. Linebacker: with the loss of Carter, Durant and possibly Rolando McClain, the Cowboys have a real need at this position. Anthony Hitchens has been solid but this defense is in need of a guy who can pressure the passer. The team did recently sign linebacker Greg Hardy but, with a potential six-game suspension looming, this position is still in need of a starter.
3. Defensive Tackle: for a second straight year the Cowboys have had a lack of consistency at this position. A base 4-3 defense requires two monsters in at the tackle position that are nasty and that will wreak havoc on the opposing team’s offensive line. Having that type of guy can collapse a pocket and stifle a running game. Tyrone Crawford had a fantastic showing in 2014. Henry Melton, who packed his bags and went to Tampa, really wasn’t the force that they needed him to be. The Cowboys need to draft this position in the first round.
2. Running Back: With two-time Pro Bowler DeMarco Murray lost to the Philadelphia Eagles, the Cowboys signed free agent Darren McFadden. Lance Dunbar and Joseph Randle will be McFadden’s backups and neither has proven to be anything more than change-of-pace or breather backs. This would be a great time for the Cowboys to grab an elusive back that has the ability to explode through holes with great balance and break tackles.
1. Offensive tackle: A veteran going into his ninth year, Doug Free was surprisingly solid in 2014… but he has had issues with an ankle injury. Surprisingly, the Cowboys elected to keep Free, signing him to a three-year contract extension. Offensive tackle Jeremy Parnell hit the free agency market where he landed a five-year, $32M deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars. This leaves a vacancy where there should be an insurance policy for the Cowboys. Free will be 32 years old at the end of the 2015 season so it would be wise for the Cowboys to provide some young talent to an already excellent offensive line.
Interesting stuff