The Dallas Cowboys have been through such a rough patch that it’s hard to believe they were Super Bowl contenders only a year ago. Now Jerry Jones has inserted Brian Schottenheimer to lead a squad similar to their 2023 team. The odd thing about the Cowboys is that their roster has plenty of talent. Many coaches would love to have Dak Prescott, Cee Dee Lamb, and Micah Parsons on their team. However, despite having that skill level, Parson is far from a championship contender.
Need 1: Running Back
Much of the scrutiny surrounding the Cowboys is aimed at Dak Prescott’s play. Seeing that he got his contract, the Cowboys need to ask how they can help him succeed. Yet, this is provided he doesn’t get traded to Cleveland. One easy way to do that is to sign a strong running back so that the Cowboys are less one-dimensional.
The Cowboys seem somewhat aware of this issue since they signed Javonte Williams to a one-year deal. There are several other running backs available that could outperform Williams, who only scored four touchdowns last season. JK Dobbins and Gus Edwards are both currently available. Although it seems like Dallas will run a committee with Miles Sanders and Javonte Williams, it’s still worth mentioning these other backs.
Need 2: Wide Receiver
Another way to help Dak Prescott be successful would be to give him a strong receiver who’s not named Cee Dee Lamb. No quarterback can be successful just by throwing long to Cee Dee Lamb on every play. Another weapon will give Prescot another place to look when he drops back, which should help his decision-making.
2025 is also a great year to need a wide receiver since plenty of them are looking for work. Dionte Johnson, Tyler Lockett, former Cowboy Amari Cooper, and Elijah Moore are just some of the receivers looking for work next season. Dallas has a cap space of about 38 million, very little of which was spent on Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders. Jerry Jones could easily pick up one of these talented wide receivers with a lucrative deal that would probably beat their competition.
Need 3: Defensive Line
Many fans will want a Demarcus Lawrence replacement instinctively, but it might make more sense for the Cowboys to pick up a defensive lineman. The Dallas Cowboys were 29th in run defense last season. This stat would be a little more tolerable if they didn’t have to play Saquon Barkley and Brian Robinson Jr. twice a year each.
Edge pressure also won’t be an issue since they still have Micah Parsons. A defensive lineman who can clog up the runways and give less room for opposing running backs would be much more valuable. Dallas could sign Calais Campbell to solve this, but that would likely come with a hefty price tag. The team could wait for the draft if they want to spend elsewhere for wide receivers, similar to Dallas picking the 12th spot. Then, they would get their pick of an interior defensive lineman.
Final Thoughts
New talent on the offensive line helps everybody, gives Dak Prescott more protection, and helps out whoever lines up at running back for the team. Of course, if Dallas drafts another player with their 12th pick, like a defensive lineman, wideout, or running back, they’ll have to wait for the secondary rounds in the draft to find a decent offensive lineman. It shouldn’t be a priority that Dallas ignores, though.
