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We did this exercise earlier in the year but now that we know who the coordinators are on both sides of the ball it will be more complete...
Let’s fix the Cowboys shall we?
Let’s fix the Cowboys shall we?
Starting on offense, once you pay Dak, it’s easy, you have 10 starters pretty firmly entrenched, with a possible battle between 52 & 66 for LG/iOL3.
Plus you have OT3 (69) TE2(86) & RB2 (20) in house.
You probably need a developmental OT and WR4/5 but those are easy to find.
Plus you have OT3 (69) TE2(86) & RB2 (20) in house.
You probably need a developmental OT and WR4/5 but those are easy to find.
So we shift to the defense. Starting up front bc Quinn is a DL guy and bc they’re gonna depend on 4 to get heat, you have:
RDE1 - 94
LDE1 - 90
DT1 - 72
DT2 - 96
NT1 - ??
NT2 - 99
DE3/Flex Rusher - ??
DE4 - 92/51
RDE1 - 94
LDE1 - 90
DT1 - 72
DT2 - 96
NT1 - ??
NT2 - 99
DE3/Flex Rusher - ??
DE4 - 92/51
That’s honestly a pretty good start, you need someone to fill the Fat starting 1T NT role, and someone to be the DE that slides inside to rush in passing situations, and you’re always trying to upgrade the DE4 spot.
For the NT, there are options, you can go bigger $$ like Dalvin Tomlinson, lower $$ like Mike Pennel, or you can go to the 2nd day of the draft with an Alim McNeil, Bobby Brown, etc.
For the flex DE my inclination would be to try to re-sign Aldon Smith, but you could also look at a Jabaal Sheard, Tarrell Basham, Pernell McPhee, Kerry Hyder, Efe Obama,etc.
For the upgrade at DE4, I lean towards a mercenary, someone like Justin Houston, or Ryan Kerrigan.
For the upgrade at DE4, I lean towards a mercenary, someone like Justin Houston, or Ryan Kerrigan.
Also John would kill me if I didn’t say they should try to sign Carl Lawson.
Then we move to the secondary.
Currently:
CB1 - 27
CB2 - ??
CB3 - 30
S1 - 37
S2 - ??
CB4 - 28
S3 - 23
And you have 41, but who knows what they’ll do with him, he could either be CB4-5 or S3-4.
Currently:
CB1 - 27
CB2 - ??
CB3 - 30
S1 - 37
S2 - ??
CB4 - 28
S3 - 23
And you have 41, but who knows what they’ll do with him, he could either be CB4-5 or S3-4.
The current depth chart leaves you needing a S to pair with 37, a boundary CB to play opposite 27, and some general depth improvements at S especially.
The S spot is interesting bc 37 played a lot of true FS in 2020 and clearly played well, but his physicality instincts, and ball skills make him a great fit to be the down S for Quinn/Whitt.
So that leaves FS as the need.
So that leaves FS as the need.
You have 3
potential types of answer:
High $$/high end players like Marcus Maye/Justin Simmons/Marcus Williams
Low $$/high upside/risky players like Malik Hooker/Demontae Kazee
Vet Minimum/Low $$/Low Upside guys like Xavier Woods, Tavon Wilson
potential types of answer:
High $$/high end players like Marcus Maye/Justin Simmons/Marcus Williams
Low $$/high upside/risky players like Malik Hooker/Demontae Kazee
Vet Minimum/Low $$/Low Upside guys like Xavier Woods, Tavon Wilson
I lean towards combining the 2nd and 3rd option, a guy like Malik Hooker w/ a Tavon Wilson type.
There’s also a chance they sign someone for mid-lvl $$ like Keanu Neal or Jaquiski Tartt and play 37 deep.
There’s also a chance they sign someone for mid-lvl $$ like Keanu Neal or Jaquiski Tartt and play 37 deep.
I don’t think they can solve boundary CB in FA for the amount they want to spend, so that’s a spot you have to draft.
That takes us to LB. which is a pretty major conundrum and is full of ??s.
The first question is what to do about 54.
A June 1 release saves them over $7m in cap space, but I bet part of Quinn’s task is finding a way to maximize him.
The first question is what to do about 54.
A June 1 release saves them over $7m in cap space, but I bet part of Quinn’s task is finding a way to maximize him.
So you have to assume 54 will be there, and 55 will as well. Will 50 be playing?
I lean to seeing if 50 wants to be my LB coach.
Who knows what Quinn & co will think of 44 or 57, but I think they are decent depth/ST/developmental pieces.
Probably still need a LB3/future LB1
I lean to seeing if 50 wants to be my LB coach.
Who knows what Quinn & co will think of 44 or 57, but I think they are decent depth/ST/developmental pieces.
Probably still need a LB3/future LB1
To summarize:
On defense, if I were in charge, priorities would be:
Sign Malik Hooker & a cheap vet S.
Re-Sign Aldon Smith & CJ Goodwin
Then draft with eyes on CB, & NT, while looking to future guys at OT, WR, LB, and S.
On defense, if I were in charge, priorities would be:
Sign Malik Hooker & a cheap vet S.
Re-Sign Aldon Smith & CJ Goodwin
Then draft with eyes on CB, & NT, while looking to future guys at OT, WR, LB, and S.
My ideal draft would look something like:
Pat Surtain II
Chazz Surratt
Bobby Brown/Alim McNeil
With a WR or OT as the comp 3 pick.
On day 3 just pick the value regardless of position and let’s rock n roll.
Pat Surtain II
Chazz Surratt
Bobby Brown/Alim McNeil
With a WR or OT as the comp 3 pick.
On day 3 just pick the value regardless of position and let’s rock n roll.
That leaves you with an early down nickel look of:
Gregory
Hill
Brown/McNeil
Lawrence
Jaylon
LVE
Surtain
Diggs
Brown
Wilson
Hooker
And Smith comes in for the NT on long 2nd downs, 3rd downs and 2 minute.
That’s probably not a top 5 DVOA group but it’s plenty good enough.
Gregory
Hill
Brown/McNeil
Lawrence
Jaylon
LVE
Surtain
Diggs
Brown
Wilson
Hooker
And Smith comes in for the NT on long 2nd downs, 3rd downs and 2 minute.
That’s probably not a top 5 DVOA group but it’s plenty good enough.
