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Dallas Cowboys: 5 Stone Cold Locks for 2018

By Steven Mullenax

PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 31: Running back Ezekiel Elliott #21 of the Dallas Cowboys takes a knee before playing against the Philadelphia Eagles during the first quarter of the game at Lincoln Financial Field on December 31, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 31: Running back Ezekiel Elliott #21 of the Dallas Cowboys takes a knee before playing against the Philadelphia Eagles during the first quarter of the game at Lincoln Financial Field on December 31, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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With the offseason now in full swing, here are five stone cold locks, predictions that we believe will become fact following the Dallas Cowboys 2018 season.

All the talk this offseason is about how this Dallas Cowboys‘ team can get back to playoff relevance in 2018. How will they re-sign their own free agents? Will they make a splash signing in free agency? Which prospects will they select in the NFL draft?

There are a lot of questions about this year’s version of America’s Team. But I believe there are some predictions we can already make about the upcoming regular season that are all but guaranteed to come true. Therefore, I present five stone cold locks about the Dallas Cowboys for 2018.

#1 – Ezekiel Elliott rushes for over 1,000 yards

Elliott nearly got 1,000 rushing yards last season despite only playing in 10 games. Posting a career rushing average of 4.6 yards per carry, it would only take 218 attempts for Zeke to reach the 1,000 yard mark. That’s just 13.6 carries a contest in a 16-game season, which is light work for the likes of Elliott.

#2 – Jaylon Smith racks up 100+ tackles

Smith posted 81 tackles in his first real NFL season, starting in six of his 16 games in 2017. Another year removed from that devastating knee injury he suffered in college, I fully expect Jaylon to see increased snaps regardless if veteran linebacker Anthony Hitchens is re-signed or not.

#3 – Byron Jones doesn’t record a single interception

Move him to cornerback or leave him at safety, neither will help Byron Jones suddenly learn to become a ballhawk. The former first rounder is simply incapable of creating turnovers as he lacks those football instincts. The fact he’s recorded just two interceptions in three years proves that point.

#4 – Dez Bryant fails to record 80 receptions

Bryant hasn’t reached this milestone since 2014, and I don’t expect things to change now. The fact is, if the Cowboys want to ignite their passing game, they need to look to the 29-year old Bryant less. Last season, Dez recorded just 69 catches on a team-high 132 targets. I expect his targets to drop in 2018, and so will his production.

Next: 2018 NFL Mock Draft - Full first round

#5 – Sean Lee doesn’t play a full 16-games

Unfortunately, the injury-bug plagued Lee once again last season, forcing him to miss five games. And that was after two relatively healthy seasons where he missed just three contests total and was nominated to the Pro Bowl in back-to-back years. The sad fact is Lee has never once played a full 16-game season in his entire eight-year career. Although he would have done so in 2015 but he was held out the final game of the year in preparation for the playoffs.

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