ARLINGTON, TX— The Dallas Cowboys have a few positions of need to address in the upcoming free agency period and NFL Draft.
After the Green Bay Packers pathetically lost to the Chicago Bears in the playoffs, their draft position was settled. The Packers ended up with the 20th overall pick in the draft, but they traded that pick to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for edge rusher Micah Parsons. Now the Cowboys own the 12th and 20th overall picks.
Dallas hasn’t been super aggressive in free agency in recent years, and that needs to change this offseason. The Cowboys only have two of the top 100 picks as they traded away their second- and third-round picks for Quinnen Williams and George Pickens. As it sits right now, after the 20th pick, Dallas would not draft again until the fourth round at 112.
They could always trade back and acquire more picks and/or players, but the Cowboys have been pretty solid in the first round with a few exceptions. The Cowboys' recent first-round draft selections were:
2025: Tyler Booker - OL - Alabama
2024: Tyler Guyton - OL - Oklahoma
2023: Mazi Smith - DT - Michigan
2022: Tyler Smith - OL - Tulsa
2021: Micah Parsons - LB - Penn State
2020: CeeDee Lamb - WR - Oklahoma
Out of those six picks, Lamb, Parsons, and Tyler Smith were home runs, Mazi has been traded, Guyton has had issues but is only in his second year, and Booker had a solid rookie season to build on. Dallas has also been one of the better drafting teams overall, picking up players who are still contributing either with the Cowboys or with other teams.
This year, the Cowboys have a few positions that need to be addressed:
DE
CB
LB
S
OL
Last year, Dallas lost DeMarcus Lawrence and traded Micah Parsons. Jadeveon Clowney, Sam Williams and Dante Fowler Jr. are all free agents, and that leaves second-year Donovan Ezeiruaku. Luckily, this draft is full of talented edge rushers like:
Keldric Faulk
Reuben Bain
David Bailey
Peter Woods
T.J Parker
At defensive back, the Cowboys released Trevon Diggs, and DaRon Bland had surgery recently. That really only leaves second-year Shavon Revel, who wasn’t able to participate in offseason workouts due to a torn ACL. The safety position has been desperate for attention, and pretty much every player there could be replaced.
Again, there are some talented defensive backs including Ohio State’s Caleb Downs, LSU’s Mansoor Delane, Tennessee’s Jermod McCoy and Clemson’s Avieon Terrell.
The middle of the defense suffered this past season as they have been overly reliant on DeMarvion Overshown, who has injury concerns, and Shemar James was a rookie. Looking at this draft, they could get a difference maker.
Arvell Reese
Sonny Styles
Anthony Hill
Jacob Rodriguez
CJ Allen
Gabe Jacas
Jake Golday
Over on offense, the Cowboys have spent a ton of draft capital on the offensive line, something that could continue as Guyton has had issues staying on the field, and Terrence Steele could get cut. There are a few really good tackles in this draft.
Francis Mauigoa
Spencer Fano
Kadyn Proctor
One thing is certain, and that is the Cowboys need to hit big on all of their picks even if they trade down. One bad draft can set a team back a few years, and Dallas is currently dealing with the 2023 Draft holding it back. One bad draft doesn’t take the credit for all the good drafts the Cowboys have had, but it does hurt.
As for free agency, Dallas has just been adding cheap players in the later weeks to fill holes on the roster. They’ll need to add some top talent early in free agency to fix one of the league’s worst defenses.
They should re-sign Clowney and Pickens for starters, but players like Tariq Woolen, Alontae Taylor, Kyle Pitts, Travis Etienne, Coby Bryant, Nakobe Dean, Joey Bosa, Khalil Mack, Quay Walker or Jaelen Phillips could fill several spots with players who can contribute right away.
Free agency starts on March 12, and the NFL Draft begins on April 23.
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