Three reasons the Dallas Cowboys will draft an offensive lineman in top 100

Sep 11, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys guard Zack Martin (70) and center Travis Frederick (72) and offensive guard La'el Collins (71) and tackle Tyron Smith (77) line up during the game against the New York Giants at AT&T Stadium. New York won 20-19. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 11, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys guard Zack Martin (70) and center Travis Frederick (72) and offensive guard La'el Collins (71) and tackle Tyron Smith (77) line up during the game against the New York Giants at AT&T Stadium. New York won 20-19. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 18, 2016; Landover, MD, USA; Dallas Cowboys center Travis Frederick (72) and Cowboys guard Zack Martin (70) line up against the Washington Redskins at FedEx Field. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 18, 2016; Landover, MD, USA; Dallas Cowboys center Travis Frederick (72) and Cowboys guard Zack Martin (70) line up against the Washington Redskins at FedEx Field. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

CAN’T AFFORD TO BUY VET STARTER

Smith and Travis Frederick are already making high dollar veteran salaries. Zack Martin will surely surpass them in the coming months.

With three OL starters being paid heavily by August, Dallas needs the other two spots to be filled by cheaper, first contract players.

Free’s early exit forces Dallas to depend on Green’s health too soon. They’ll surely add a talented rookie swing tackle behind him as injury insurance.

Dallas would love to add a starting caliber veteran tackle at mild cost instead. They simply can’t do so carrying three other high OL salaries.

Unfortunately, the Cowboys will draft a top 100 OL and it will likely cost the defense.

I hate to say it, but Dallas is falling behind and relying entirely too much on four top 150 draft selections to fill a handful of serious concerns.

Jeff Heath is back being naively praised as a reliable option at starting safety. There’s talk of chasing a tight end again, a draft luxury they no longer have.

Next: Ranking every top-10 pick in Dallas Cowboys’ history

Now they’ll spend a top draft selection on OL again when defensive line is far inferior. Sadly, these decisions resemble the 8-8 “wishful thinking” mentality from 2011-13.