FRISCO, Texas – Despite having the most talented roster in recent memory on paper in 2021, the Dallas Cowboys once again came up short. Another one and done season as the storied franchise failed to hoist their sixth Lombardi Trophy. In terms of production, the unit mirrored the past decade with an undisciplined and unprepared output in the wild-card round against the San Francisco 49ers. As the season ended abruptly in January, Dallas became the only team to lose at home in the first round.
The Cowboys are projected to be more than $21 million over the 2022 salary cap according to OverTheCap.com. Space can be created by restructuring current contracts, but some players could be salary cap casualties. Restructuring contracts is a short-term solution but can have negative effects on the cap in the future. Dallas has 21 unrestricted free agents set to hit the open market in March. The Cowboys traditionally build through the draft and pickup additional bargains in free agency, signing short-term deals. Here is a breakdown of the positions that should be on the top of the Cowboys’ wish list this offseason.
Left Guard
The Cowboys need a reboot along the offensive line and one sole position will not solve the issue but can work to alleviate the problem. Left guard became one of the most glaring issues. Connor Williams was the most penalized lineman in the league (15 total, 12 accepted), which forcibly led to him being benched. However, backup Connor McGovern did not play better in his absence at left guard. The Cowboys had seven different alignments throughout the season and many questions need to be addressed in the offseason. Williams is set to become an unrestricted free agent and with the preposterous number of penalty infractions, his fate is sealed.
To improve the configuration, Dallas can move veteran tackle La’el Collins to left guard, where he began his career. Collins disclosed to media during the season that the left is his natural side, and the switch would open a spot for Terence Steele at right tackle. Or the Cowboys could draft a player as early as the first round (pick 24). Dallas also saw center Tyler Biadasz take a step back in 2021 and the club does not have a successor at left tackle for aging and injury-prone, Tyron Smith. Josh Ball is the likely candidate for the backup swing tackle role, but the club does not know what they have in him. The Cowboys could use multiple acquisitions across the line to bolster the unit, starting with left guard.
Edge
There is a strong chance the Cowboys will not have both DeMarcus Lawrence and Randy Gregory in 2022. Lawrence has two years remaining on his contract and his base salary for 2022 is $19 million. Given his age (turns 30 in April) and his track record with injury, it is unlikely that the Cowboys would restructure his contract to create space under the cap. The Cowboys would like to keep Gregory, who achieved the most productive campaign of his career in 2021. Dan Quinn worked Gregory out at Nebraska during the pre-draft process in 2015 and had been infatuated with the player ever since. The two were reunited last season in Dallas with the Cowboys and the mutual trust was evident. However, what kind of commitment are the Cowboys willing to make? Gregory is an unrestricted free agent, and his durability is questionable. Despite his performance in 2021, Gregory has played in 50 games over the last seven seasons due to a myriad of off-the-field issues and mental health struggles, resulting in multiple suspensions. He has dealt with his fair share of injuries and turns 30 in November. The Cowboys more than likely will not give Gregory a lucrative deal and he may test the open market for the highest price. His hefty dollar amount may be more than the Cowboys want to gamble.
Behind both Lawrence and Gregory on the depth chart was interchangeable, Dorance Armstrong and Tarell Basham. Armstrong is an unrestricted free agent and Basham is poised to take the backup job. Last year’s third-round pick, Chauncey Golston, has not shown enough to have earned a starting role. Micah Parsons is a dominant pass rusher, but the coaching staff has made it clear he will not be utilized as a full-time defensive end. The Cowboys need his sideline-to-sideline range at linebacker. If either Gregory or Lawrence are gone – unlikely both are retained – the position will need to be addressed early in the draft. Perhaps at 24th overall.
Safety
As anyone that pays attention to the Cowboys can attest, this is a position that Dallas has not invested in with high draft picks. The club often dips into the free agency pool, as they did in 2021 acquiring Jayron Kearse, Damontae Kazee and Malik Hooker. All three are unrestricted free agents. After a breakout campaign for Dallas this past season as the team’s physical box safety, Kearse led the Cowboys in tackles. He made a name for himself donning the Star as one of the Cowboys’ top consistent defenders and has earned an extension. Donovan Wilson is currently the only one among the 2021 starters under contract and Kearse is an investment that would pay dividends. Last year’s sixth round pick Israel Mukuamu will continue to further his development as a future starter.
It is doubtful that the Cowboys keep more than one and could potentially keep Kearse. However, as history evidences, Dallas will likely fill the spots as they have in previous years, with a later round draft pick or a one-year free agent deal.
Linebacker
Micah Parsons is an absolute menace, wreaking havoc on offenses but Dallas needs to bolster the position group around him. Last year’s fourth round pick Jabril Cox tore his ACL at Minnesota. Had he not suffered the injury and the coaching staff had a sample size to assess, he could have been the starter opposite Parsons in 2022. At this point, Dallas does not know how he will acclimate to the pros or will there be any lingering issues/hesitation on the field post-injury. Keanu Neal and Leighton Vander Esch – the other two starters — are about to enter free agency, making the group glaringly thin. Alongside Parsons, Neal and Vander Esch contributed over 70 tackles in 2021.
The Cowboys will probably not use Pick 24 on a linebacker, unless by some miracle Georgia’s Nakobe Dean is still on the board. Dallas could pick one up in the second or third round with a deep draft at the linebacker position. Making an outside move in free agency seems unlikely. More plausible? Dallas attempts to keep Vander Esch or Neal.
Wide Receiver
What happens in the offseason will weigh heavily on what the Cowboys decide to do with Amari Cooper. Dallas has experienced an embarrassment of riches within the position group; however, Cooper may be dubbed the club’s No. 1 wide receiver on paper, but he has not been utilized as such. Cooper missed two games while on the Reserve/COVID-19 list as a result of his unvaccinated designation. Owner/general manager, Jerry Jones candidly disclosed his thoughts on player vaccination status and precision of the corps’ route running. In clear frustration, Cooper lobbied for additional targets down the stretch in order to ignite the offense.
Will the Cowboys pay Cooper $20 million each season or move on and save $16 million? With the route running technician in the lineup come fall, the need decreases to the bottom of the shopping list. Without him? Things have thinned with CeeDee Lamb as the only starter under contract. Michael Gallup, Cedrick Wilson and rotational option Noah Brown are unrestricted free agents. If the Cowboys lose Cooper, Dallas will likely need to address the position in the first three rounds.
Gallup sensationally navigates the sideline in contested catch situations, but his season-ending knee injury hurt his chances on the open market. A short-term deal with the Cowboys seems more likely to upgrade his stock in 2022.
Tight End
Coming off another productive campaign in 2021, Dalton Schultz’s price tag will likely be too much for the Cowboys to spend. The positional group would then consist of Blake Jarwin, Sean McKeon and Jeremy Sprinkle if Schultz hits the open market. Schultz would likely earn $10-$15 million per year, placing him among the highest-paid tight ends in the league.
The Stanford product could get a similar deal to what New England gave to Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith in free agency. Over the past two seasons, Schultz has caught 74.2% of passes thrown his direction – fifth highest in the league. Schultz has yet to reach the elite tight end class of Travis Kelce, Mark Andrews, George Kittle, or Darren Waller but he is an efficient and reliable pass-catcher.
Whether Dallas opts to pick up a cheap option in free agency or boost the unit through the draft, the Cowboys need to secure a tight end who is a receiving threat but also can hold his own in the run game/assist in pass protection when needed.
