Analyzing what the Dallas Cowboys biggest need is for 2021 NFL Draft
Through the disappointing 2020 season that it has been for the Dallas Cowboys, there have been many glaring holes exposed on the team. The four that immediately jump to mind include offensive line, defensive tackle, linebacker, and defensive back. To no surprise to any, three of the four mentioned above happen to be on the […]
Through the disappointing 2020 season that it has been for the Dallas Cowboys, there have been many glaring holes exposed on the team. The four that immediately jump to mind include offensive line, defensive tackle, linebacker, and defensive back.
To no surprise to any, three of the four mentioned above happen to be on the defensive side of the ball. The Dallas Cowboys rank at the bottom — or very close to the bottom — in just about every defensive category recorded, including dead last in run defense.
Addressing that side of the football needs to be among the highest priorities for the Cowboys this offseason. The expectation is that the offense will be among the best in the league when Dak Prescott and company return to the field, but there is not as much hope for the defense.
There is no denying the fact that the Dallas Cowboys have a handful of needs to address this offseason through free agency and the 2021 NFL Draft. The light at the end of the tunnel in regards to this season is that the team will more than likely be picking inside the top-5 of the draft this upcoming April.
That will certainly allow the team to do a solid job of plugging holes on the roster. The question still remains: what is the Cowboys' biggest team need to address in the draft?
Offensive Line
It was not too long ago that the Dallas Cowboys were the home of the gold standard of offensive line play in the NFL. This generation's Great Wall of Dallas helped pave the way for impressive rushing seasons while also protecting the quarterback. The line was headlined by the likes of Tyron Smith, Zack Martin, and Travis Frederick.
Frederick first retired in 2018 and then again in the 2020 offseason after battling autoimmune disease. Smith has been banged up throughout his recent career and was sidelined again this season. Zack Martin is still one of the elite in football, but even he was hit with the injury bug in 2020.
With La'el Collins also on injured reserve, the Dallas Cowboys have had to make a lot of adjustments in the trenches this season. Undrafted free agent rookie Terence Steele has started 10 games this season at right tackle, having more downs than ups during his first professional season.
Fellow rookie Tyler Biadasz, a fourth-round draft selection out of Wisconsin, has started four games this season for the Cowboys and will likely finish his rookie campaign starting at center once he returns from injured reserve. Connor McGovern, a second-year player out of Penn State that had his rookie season shut down before it even began in 2019, has shown some flashes as of late.
All in all, the Cowboys are still in decent shape on the offensive line. It would be hard to pass up on a talent such as Oregon offensive lineman Penei Sewell should he still be on the board when Dallas makes it pick come April, but the Cowboys have more pressing needs to address.
Defensive Tackle and Linebacker
These are two positions that have garnered a good bit of scrutiny from the fan base — and for good reasons. The scrutiny stems from two different places, though.
For defensive tackle, the team has largely ignored the position over the years — maybe not to the degree of safety, but still. For whatever reason, the Cowboys largely do not see defensive tackle as a priority in the draft. Trysten Hill was the team's first draft pick in 2019 (58th overall), but he is the exception — and the verdict is still out on how that draft pick will ultimately look.
To the team's credit, the Cowboys did go out and ink some big bodies in free agency — Gerald McCoy and Dontari Poe — it just did not work out. McCoy's season was ended before the first game with a torn quadriceps tendon, while Poe was a bust for Dallas and was cut midseason.
As for linebacker, the team has spent some premium picks at the position. Leighton Vander Esch was the team's first-rounder in 2018, while Jaylon Smith was the 34th overall pick in 2016. Both flashed superstardom in the 2018 season, but injuries have been difficult for each to overcome. Smith has looked like a shell of himself since signing his five-year, $64 million extension.
LVE, meanwhile, has had his fair share of ups and downs on the field and has missed time due to injury. He is coming off a disastrous game against the Ravens, though he was largely playing well before that performance.
How do the Cowboys improve this position? Well, spending a top draft pick on an off-ball linebacker is not the smartest idea in the world, as linebackers are often called the "running backs of the defense". It would not be a good idea for the Cowboys to use its top draft pick on a linebacker in 2021.
Defensive backfield
Finally, the secondary in Dallas is flat-out atrocious. Between giving up big plays in the passing game to struggling in run support, the Cowboys have struggled greatly in the defensive backfield.
Seeing Byron Jones walk for nothing and play well for the Miami Dolphins has to hurt. Rookie corner Trevon Diggs had some rookie mistakes, but he appeared to be coming on strong for the defense prior to fracturing a bone in his foot. He will be a building block for the Cowboys secondary for the foreseeable future, assuming he makes a full and healthy recovery.
Elsewhere? It is a mess for the Cowboys. Chidobe Awuzie has never blossomed into the kind of player that many were hoping he would be when the team drafted him in the second-round of the 2017 draft. Xavier Woods was a fan favorite for years, but it is becoming more evident that he has probably hit his ceiling at safety for the Cowboys.
Jourdan Lewis is a polarizing player in the Dallas secondary. A favorite of many on Cowboys Twitter, Lewis has flashed over his career, but he also has his struggles. The good news is that the 2017 third-rounder is coming off a strong game versus Baltimore. Perhaps a sign of things to come?
Donovan Wilson is another player that has received some hype from Cowboys fans, and he has flashed at times when he is getting snaps. Perhaps he will develop into a solid contributor for Dallas. We are still waiting to see rookie Reggie Robinson play, and that is another player that many have some high hopes for.
On a different note, Darian Thompson is a player that this team cannot afford to rely on and expect to win games. This unit is in desperate need of an injection of talent.
Investing a top draft pick in the secondary would be smart for the Cowboys in 2021. It remains to be seen whether or not the team will change its philosophy on not prioritizing the safety position, but there will be some talented prospects in the defensive backfield for Dallas to choose from in April.
Prospects that the Cowboys could target at cornerback with their first-round draft pick:
- Patrick Surtain II, Alabama
- Caleb Farley, Virginia Tech
- Jaycee Horn, South Carolina
- Asante Samuel Jr., Florida State
Prospects that the Cowboys could target at safety with their first-round draft pick:
- Trevon Moehrig, TCU
- Jevon Holland, Oregon
- Shaun Wade, Ohio State (potential to play multiple positions in the secondary at corner or safety)
Featured image via Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports
