We are a month away from Day 1 of the 2022 NFL Draft, and the Dallas Cowboys' time to shine. Finally.

It's been a tumultuous off-season. The losses of Randy Gregory, La'el Collins and Amari Cooper have been felt amongst the fans. Three of the team's best players now gone, all for various reasons, and a front office that has insisted on not using veterans to upgrade a team that finished 12-5, won the division and made the playoffs.

Understandably, fans of all kinds who support the Dallas Cowboys are frustrated with the lack of moves being made. All while the AFC is busy stockpiling high quality veteran plays, and Dallas opting for bargain players, instead.

The good news is if there's anything the Cowboys organization has done a great job with, it's drafting. They've been able to find Pro Bowlers and high value starters in nearly every round, even if you just go back to the last 10-12 draft classes.

However, as the Cowboys have become better at drafting, they also have become predictable. We know which positions they value over others. Which rounds they'll start to look to fill certain spots. And etcetera.

While not necessarily a bad strategy, it means we know a good portion of what to expect come Draft Day.

Players Who The Cowboys Will Target In The First Round

For a while now, the Dallas Cowboys have bought into the "best player available" philosophy and to draft for talent and not need. One of the first things they will do is hint at what position they're targeting to start.

For example, the biggest need going into the 2021 season was seen as cornerback. They allowed Chidobe Awuzie to hit the open market, and didn't bring in any veteran player to add depth. Having been attached to both Jaycee Horn and Patrick Surtain for months, it was a foregone conclusion that corner was where they were headed.

It was only in a twist of faith that both corners would be gone before Dallas could pick, leaving them to take the best player available on their board: Micah Parsons.

For 2022, we look at the moves the Dallas Cowboys have made and what they traditionally value on Day 1. If you go back through their draft history since 2013, they've drafted the following:

A running back, two offensive linemen, two wide receivers (Amari Cooper trade), two linebackers, an edge rusher and a defensive back. Aside from Ezekiel Elliott, considered a generational talent at RB, the Cowboys show you what they value the most.

• They have investments at corner with Trevon Diggs, Jourdan Lewis, Anthony Brown and last year's second-round pick Kelvin Joseph.
• After losing Gregory, they re-signed Dorance Armstrong and brought in Dan Quinn's own Dante Fowler.
• After trading Cooper and losing Cedrick Wilson to free agency, they re-signed Michael Gallup and Noah Brown, plus brought in local product James Washington.
• The Cowboys invested two picks at linebacker in 2021 with Parsons and Jabril Cox, both expected to start this next season. There's the return of former first-round pick Leighton Vander Esch, as well.

The only position that hasn't been addressed is offensive line, which is arguably the Cowboys biggest need. Releasing La'el Collins and losing Connor Williams to free agency leaves the Cowboys with question marks on their starting line aside from Zack Martin.

Look for the main priority to be an offensive linemen come April 28. With the Cowboys already doing their work on the position, they're giving out not-so-subtle hints.

The Cowboys Will Land Plenty Of Value Picks

Even though the first round is what's talked about the most, Day 2 and 3 are where you can also find your starters and hidden gems. It happens every year as players get overlooked and fall down the draft.

The Dallas Cowboys have found exceptional value on these days. Finding Pro Bowl players like Diggs, Sean Lee, Jaylon Smith and of course, QB Dak Prescott. Or even great, reliable starters like Gallup, Donovan Wilson, Tony Pollard, Neville Gallimore or Dalton Schultz.

This trend is a constant continuation, and an area this front office has made a knack in finding value. Even if there's a player fans want more than who they picked, history suggests that one or more of these picks will turn into really good players.

Positions The Cowboys Will Prioritize

We've already sort of touched on this with how they'll handle the first round. Offensive line, wide receiver, linebacker and edge rusher are more than priority positions. They are all positions of need.

Even with some being filled by low-cost veterans, they don't all necessarily equate to long-term fixes. This team is going to take a player at each of these positions, as they are among the most popular areas for the team to draft.

Since 2010, the Dallas Cowboys have drafted 11 LBs, 11 WRs, 13 offensive linemen and 19 defensive linemen. Some years even taking more than one at the position.

Even if Dallas already has depth or has drafted a player at a certain spot, they're likely to take the player anyway. Reaffirming their belief in best player available.

Positions The Cowboys Won't Touch Until Day 3

Three of the Cowboys' bigger needs won't be addressed until rounds 4-7: tight end, nose tackle and safety. They've made investments at the position, re-signing Malik Hooker and Jayron Kearse to two-year deals, as well as franchise tagging Schultz.

On top of that, these are among the least drafted positions the Cowboys make in the first three rounds. In the last 12 drafts, Dallas has drafted four TEs (two as final picks), four NTs and six safeties in the final four rounds of the draft. Simply put, the Dallas Cowboys don't value these areas as high as others.

Even with the future at tight end in question and lacking depth, and the Cowboys needing to fix the middle of the defensive line to stop the run, it likely won't be until the final day of the draft to see these positions/players taken.

There Will Be Cowboys "Coach's" Picks

Has a pick ever seemed like a head scratcher? Think along the lines of third-round defensive back Nahshon Wright. Despite perception of him being a mid-to-late day three pick, he fit Dan Quinn's model of a corner back (6'4" 215-pounds) and was taken much earlier than expected.

It happens every year and not just with the Dallas Cowboys either. Will McClay and company are usually aligned with which players are on top of their boards, but will always take the coaches input into consideration. Especially if it's one of "their guys".

Just look at how former Cowboys defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli reacted to them drafting Joey Ivie back in 2017.

Can’t stop watching Rod Marinelli’s reaction when the Cowboys drafted @JoeyIvie #CowboysDraft pic.twitter.com/dgQsQAv8kb

— Kent Garrison (@KentGarrison) April 30, 2017

To be fair, all draft picks are coach's picks. The main characters in the front office are the people making the decisions, but when it comes down to a handful of their options when on the clock, they'll always get input on who the staff would rather go with. Just be ready for an out-of-nowhere selection that either is 'too early' or doesn't make sense at the time.

Odds are, that player is a coach's pick if that happens.

Featured image via Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports