The front office of the Dallas Cowboys have done a great job adding talent this offseason
Deonte Thompson Jersey Stitched , but they are just getting started. Now, the team turns their attention to the NFL Draft to do what they do best - collect star talent."It wasn’t that long ago when many people were upset with the front office of the Dallas Cowboys. The team was quiet during the first wave of free agency and fans were left wondering how this team was expected to improve upon last year’s squad. With no first-round pick this year, the Cowboys are going to miss out on the top players from this draft class. And with a conservative approach to free agency, what exactly would that mean for the team’s offseason upgrades? It didn’t look promising.But here we are now and things look really good heading into the draft. Not only did the Cowboys sign the league’s top free agent in DeMarcus Lawrence, but they got him for a couple million less than what he would’ve commanded had he hit the free agent market. To go along with Lawrence, the team also traded a 2020 sixth-round draft pick for veteran defensive end Robert Quinn. Just like that, the Cowboys suddenly have one of the better edge rushing duo’s in the league. That’s a big accomplishment considering edge rushers are one of the most crucial positions in the NFL.The Cowboys also signed many of their own free agents that hit the market, most importantly - Cameron Fleming. The swing tackle insurance the team purchased last offseason has been renewed for another two years. Considering Tyron Smith’s clockwork tendency to miss three games, that’s a pretty important signing. In 2017, the Cowboys offense averaged just seven points a game without Smith as the swing tackle combo of Chaz Green and Byron Bell was atrocious. With Fleming filling in, the offense averaged 27 points a game without Smith this past season. That’s a big swing.The team’s biggest loss this offseason is the departure of Cole Beasley. The team would’ve liked to retain their veteran slot receiver, but they weren’t going to invest the money it took to keep him in Dallas. Beasley left for the wonderful facilities in Buffalo
Youth Marcus Martin Jersey , so the Cowboys went to plan B. That plan consisted of signing former Green Bay Packers receiver Randall Cobb. It’s up for debate as to which receiver is better. Beasley was such an important safety net for Dak Prescott, but he didn’t have that big play ability. Cobb is a former Pro Bowler who has a nice résumé of production, but most of that was earlier in his career when he was healthy. It’s true that health will be a concern for Cobb as he’s missed eight games over the past two seasons compared to just one from Beasley. Despite playing in seven fewer games in that span, Cobb still had more catches and more yards than Beasley. If Cobb stays healthy, and that’s certainly an “if,” he should end up being the more productive receiver of the two.Cobb’s $5 million deal is the most money the Cowboys have invested in outside free agents this offseason. That shouldn’t surprise people. The team also signed some low cost defensive linemen in Christian Covington and Kerry Hyder. While nobody expects much from these guys, the Cowboys have a good track record getting solid contribution from cheap defensive line investments. Players like George Selvie, Jeremy Mincey, Terrell McClain, and Antwaun Woods have logged some quality snaps despite costing the team almost nothing against their salary cap. Much to the chagrin of many, the team didn’t make the big splash fans were hoping for at the safety position, yet they covered themselves with a cheap one-year deal for George Iloka. It wasn’t ground-breaking
Marcus Martin Jersey Stitched , but it was a solid signing nonetheless. At the very least, the team has filled holes at the bottom of their roster so they can now go into the draft and select players without worrying about any glaring needs. And that brings us to the upcoming festivities that await us in a couple weeks. While it feels a lot better now than it did a month ago, this thing is just getting started. The draft is where it gets done. There will be good football players at 58. There will be good football players at 90. And there will be good football players on Day 3. The Cowboys are going to find those players because they aren’t boxed in a corner to take a specific position. Sure, many of us want a safety in the second round, but we should prepare ourselves for the unexpected. Don’t be surprised if they draft a cornerback at pick 58. And try not to be shocked if a running back is selected at 90. It would be great if each pick hit the spot in terms of addressing the team’s most pressing needs, but that’s not how the Cowboys draft. Today’s needs may not be tomorrow’s needs, but collecting good players will always come in handy. Drafting pure is what’s been working for the team over the years so expect more of the same. Stephen Jones makes no secret about it.The Cowboys have been drafting extremely well in recent years. We all know about the long list of All-Pro first rounders, but the list of quality picks has expanded to other rounds as well. That’s good news considering the team will have to sit on their hands for the first 57 picks of the draft. But this front office is patient. They can wait it out with the best of them. It should be interesting to see what players come off the board and what that means for the Cowboys when they are on the clock. Yep, mock draft season is in full swing. And while they are often wildly inaccurate (especially this early), they are also fun to read.2019 NFL mock draft: Here’s 2 rounds for after Super Bowl 53 - Dan Kadar, SBNation.comFirst round mocks are kinda disappointing for us, but we can take solace in having Amari Cooper instead of the 27th overall selection. But good news
Youth Tavon Austin Jersey , this mock goes two rounds deep, and has a very plausible pick for Dallas.2019 4-round Mock Draft: Cowboys trade up for star safety, firebomb DL - K.D. Drummond, Cowboys WireThis Dallas-only mock goes four deep for the Cowboys, and is loaded with trades. Here is a move up from 58, trading that pick and Dallas’ 2020 second rounder.Dane Brugler’s Mock Draft 3.0: A trade up for Dwayne Haskins in this two-round scenario – Dane Brugler, The AthleticWant more?Highway to Hell? Real Cowboys duty of Kitna: Save Garrett's butt - Mike Fisher, 247 SportsThe Cowboys and Kitrna were a bit coy about his role at first, but this digs down to what it really is under the title. The last bit of the article is perhaps the best.Dallas Cowboys: Will Dak improve under Moore and Kitna? | Clarence Hill, Jr., Fort Worth Star-TelegramHead coach Jason Garrett addressed the way he expects Kellen Moore and Jon Kitna to work with Dak Prescott.Kellen Moore's journey: From a kid collecting playbooks to Cowboys OC - Todd Archer, Dallas Cowboys Blog- ESPNHere is a little Moore evidence (sorry
Tavon Austin Jersey Stitched , couldn't resist) about how the new OC was prepping for his job long before it even became a possibility.Star Evaluation: How Looney Saved The Season - David Helman, DallasCowboys.comSome measured but certainly deserved praise for how Joe Looney stepped up last season.5 Under-The-Radar Big Decisions For Dallas - Rob Phillips, DallasCowboys.comThis is a look at some of the decisions not involving DeMarcus Lawrence or Cole Beasley that face the Cowboys. The list starts with one I have very high on the needs list.Dallas Cowboys: Film room: Earl Thomas and the art of playmaking – how the safety would improve the Cowboys defense | SportsDayWe are still wondering whether the Cowboys will make a move to sign S Earl Thomas in free agency. Here are some reasons why they should.Will Cowboys WR Terrance Williams Be a 2019 Salary Cap Casualty? 鉁?Jess Haynie, Inside the StarThere are lots of decisions to make. This article looks at whether Terrance Williams has a future with the team.The top 101 players from the 2018 NFL season | NFL Analysis | Pro Football Focus Analysis TeamWith the top 25 still to come, the Cowboys already have five players on PFF's list of the top 101 players in the NFL. Joining DeMarcus Lawrence, Leighton Vander Esch, Byron Jones, and Zack Martin is the player many worried would never play a down in the league.Falcons cut kicker Matt Bryant - Dave Choate,The FalcoholicThings that make you go "Hmmm . . ."Should the Cowboys pursue veteran kicker Matt Bryant? - R.J. Ochoa, Blogging The BoysAnd our own R.J. is one who is intrigued.Eagles only goal with Nick Foles is keeping him from New York Giants - Jason Cole, FansidedI don't know how real this is - but just the thought of such maneuvering by Dallas' division rivals is rather interesting.