The Cowboys missed the playoffs again, making them the official most confusing team in the NFL. Are they good or not?
2019 Record: 8-8 (2nd in NFC East)
Key Additions
S: Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (The joke is that they cut him)
DT: Gerald McCoy (Another player who was released)
DE: Aldon Smith
Draft Picks:
Round 1, pick 17:CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma
Round 2, pick 51:Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama
Round 3, pick 82:Neville Gallimore, DT, Oklahoma
Round 4, pick 123: ;Reggie Robinson II, CB, Tulsa
Round 5, pick 146:Tyler Biadasz, C, Wisconsin
Round 5, pick 179:Bradlee Anae, DE, Utah
Round 7, pick 231:Ben DiNucci, QB, James Madison
Season Preview
Offense:
For the first time in a decade, the Cowboys will not have Jason Garrett calling the shots. New head coach Mike McCarthy will look to give the Cowboys a fresh start heading into the new decade.
Dak Prescott is going to get paid like a top-tier QB while not being a top-tier QB. isn’t that crazy? Anyway, Prescott did have an “MVP” like season last year with just under 5,000 yards passing and 33 TDs. He is good, but for the money, he is asking for, he’s not worth it.
There is no suspense at this position. Ezekiel Elliott had over 1,700 yards from scrimmage and 14 total TDs. They do have Tony Pollard to back up Elliot, but Elliot will be getting ∞ touches.
The wide receiving core is one of the most intriguing in the league. Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup both had 1,000-yard seasons in 2019. The Cowboys replaced Randall Cobb with Lamb, the top receiver in the 2020 draft class, so you know, not a bad thing at all.
The loss of Travis Frederick will be bigger than we think, but this is still a very solid unit in the trenches. All-Pro guard Zack Martin and two outstanding tackles in Tyron Smith and La’el Collins will be able to fill the void just nicely.
Defense:
DeMarcus Lawrence is a beast coming off the edge in a pass-rush that doesn’t always show up. I was stunned when the Cowboys decided not to address this issue in the draft. But to be fair, they tried to do that in free agency. Randy Gregory and Aldon Smith will have to fill the void of McCoy
At linebacker, they have a solid group, but with a lot of question marks. Sean Lee is on the wrong side of 30, Leighton Vander Esch is coming off neck surgery, and Jaylon Smith will always have a question around him because of his brutal injury at Notre Dame. But, Smith has turned out to be one of the better players in this league and was paid so accordingly.
This is the area where we are most concerned. After losing Byron Jones via free agency, there is not one great player in the Cowboys secondary. Anthony Brown struggled this past year, Chidobe Awuzie could be moved to safety, Jourdan Lewis could not become a consistent player, and Diggs will likely go through growing pains as a rookie. If the Cowboys don’t make the playoffs this year, it’s because of their secondary.
Win Total: 10
I’m going under here. I have the Cowboys sitting around 8-9 wins. They will have a great offense no doubt, but I can’t get over that defensive secondary. They will be fighting for the playoffs, but they got to make a move at some point to improve this team.
