The window is closing with the upcoming expiring contracts of Dak Prescott, Amari Cooper, and Byron Jones, all of whom will be paid top five money at their respective positions. If the Cowboys have leaned anything from the Demarcus Lawrence contract negotiations, it should be that the earlier you sign them, the more affordable and better. It’s Super Bowl or bust, as they may not have the same group come 2020. So today I’m going to break down the Dallas Cowboys biggest concerns that must be addressed in this weeks draft in order to reach the Super Bowl.
Starting off, the Cowboys have a desperate need at backup running back and have been linked to the name Damien Harris out of Alabama. The Cowboys brought him in as one of their thirty pre draft visits, and have been mocked to select him in the second round. After recently exercising star running back Ezekiel Elliott’s fifth year option, they will be looking for a guy with a similar skillset to help keep Elliott fresh come playoff time. Think about the situation the Saints had with Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara. However, I prefer they take Oklahoma State running back Justice Hill or Stanford running back Bryce Love in rounds three or four.
The next position with a need would be at the safety position. Jeff Heath is just a fill in with excellent special teams ability, so they need to find a true starting strong safety to pair with Xavier Woods. The name many fans dreamed of signing was Earl Thomas, but that was always a long shot with the money he wanted. If I’m in the draft room for the Cowboys I’d keep my out for safety Taylor Rapp out of Washington. If he is available, I’m picking him immediately and having no regrets. Sure he had a slower 40 time than you would hope, but you have to remember he is still recovering from a late season groin injury. Pair him along with Woods, and the Cowboys would be getting a first round talent in the late second.
This just might be the deepest draft for interior lineman in recent memory. With a slew of talent across the board, the Cowboys should be able to grab a guy in the late third or fourth round to rotate in with Maliek Collins and Antwaun Woods. Defensive end could also be an option in the second or third round, depending on whether or not Jaylon Ferguson falls into the late second. The Cowboys are always looking for more edge rushers, and with Taco Charlton involved in trade rumors, the NCAA all time leader in sacks would be a spectacular grab.
As for the later rounds, I could see the Cowboys adding more receiving options for Dak Prescott. Riley Ridley and Andy Isabella should both be available come the third round and possibly the fourth. Both are excellent route runners with decent speed to rotate in with slot receiver Randall Cobb, who they’ll likely just have for one year. If they plan on getting one of these two in the fourth, they will need to trade up.
It’s a new era for the Cowboys, I can’t remember the last time linebacker was not a desperate need. Yet, here they stand with arguably the most solid group in the NFL with Leighton Vander Esch, Jaylon Smith, and Sean Lee. I expect Dallas to take two defensive players within the first four rounds and see if they can grab a corner in the sixth or seventh. Mostly, expect Jerry and Stephen Jones to load up on offensive skill talent in this draft.
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