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Dallas Cowboys headlines: Sleeper linebacker, Drafting a tight end

By Steven Mullenax

COLLEGE PARK, MD - NOVEMBER 07: Quarterback Perry Hills #11 of the Maryland Terrapins is sacked by linebacker Jack Cichy #48 of the Wisconsin Badgers during the first half at Byrd Stadium on November 7, 2015 in College Park, Maryland.(Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
COLLEGE PARK, MD - NOVEMBER 07: Quarterback Perry Hills #11 of the Maryland Terrapins is sacked by linebacker Jack Cichy #48 of the Wisconsin Badgers during the first half at Byrd Stadium on November 7, 2015 in College Park, Maryland.(Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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With the NFL Scouting Combine kicking off this week, the upcoming NFL Draft is front and center for the Dallas Cowboys. Here are today’s headlines …

For the Dallas Cowboys, as well as many other NFL teams, this week’s focus will be split between the Scouting Combine, which kicks off on Tuesday, and preparing for free agency. For Dallas, re-signing their own free agents is a current priority with players like pass rusher DeMarcus Lawrence and linebacker Anthony Hitchens on the line.

But what if those, and other important players, fall through and leave the team via free agency? The Cowboys have devoted themselves to building their roster through the draft. That’s just one of the topics we’ll cover in today’s headlines.

NFL draft preview: If Anthony Hitchens walks, which linebackers can Cowboys replace him with?

There is a good chance linebacker Anthony Hitchens has already played his last game for the Cowboys. If that is true, Dallas will be looking to replace him in the upcoming draft. A sleeper pick fans need to be on the lookout for is Wisconsin linebacker Jack Cichy. A projected fourth round selection, a round Dallas now has two selections in, Cichy comes with major injury concerns but also a high ceiling. The Cowboys have taken similar risks on linebackers like Sean Lee and Bruce Carter.

NFL Team Needs: Dallas Cowboys Team Needs – WithTheFirstPick.com

Here we go again. In this list of top team needs for the Cowboys this offseason, tight end once again pops up it’s ugly head. And yes, on the surface, a 35-year old Jason Witten is a concern. But Dallas has viable backups in James Hanna and Geoff Swaim. Plus they have sacrificed a lot to develop Rico Gathers and Blake Jarwin. I honestly don’t consider tight end a need for Dallas … this year.

Dez Bryant advises young players not to play injured – Pro Football Talk

I think there is a time and place for everything. The fact is, every NFL player has to deal with some sort of injury during the season. It’s the nature of this very physically-demanding game. Playing injured is really a judgement call the player and the team’s medical staff should make together. When being on the field hurts the team, that’s certainly a time to shut things down. But let’s face it. Every player is playing hurt at point in the season.

NFL mock draft 2018: First-round projections – seccountry.com

In the above mock, the Cowboys are slated to take Michigan defensive tackle Maurice Hurst. If Hurst is the top player on their draft board, I’d say go for it. But I think Dallas believes they can find a one-technique defensive tackle later on in this draft class. Still on the board in this mock when Dallas’ number is called are Virginia Tech linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, Washington defensive tackle Vita Vea and UTSA defensive end Marcus Davenport.

Next: Dallas Cowboys - 10 highest paid players in 2018

Kellen Moore moving from player to QB coach for Cowboys – FOX Sports

In my eyes, the election by the Cowboys to hire Moore as quarterback coach is more about comfortably than upgrading the staff. The former backup has been a defacto coach during his time in Dallas, so the only thing that really changes is his title. I would have loved to have seen the Cowboys find someone outside the organization to try and speed up Dak Prescott‘s development. Instead, it appears we’ll maintain the “status quo” for yet another season.

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