Dallas Cowboys 2018 Draft First Pick: Defense or Offense?
The Dallas Cowboys have methodically built a team that has proven they can get to the playoffs. Now, can they draft players that can take them further?
In the upcoming NFL draft, the Dallas Cowboys will be presented with an annual question. With their first round selection, should the Cowboys pick an offensive or defensive player?
Last year, the Cowboys focused their draft on adding defensive players after having major contributors like safety Barry Church and cornerbacks Brandon Carr and Morris Claiborne leave in free agency.
Yet, according to Pro Football Reference, the Cowboys defense posted better stats defending the pass going from 26th in 2016 to 11th in 2017. However, they did fall from 1st in rushing defense to 8th in 2017. And the Cowboys overall defensive rank fell from 5th to the 13th best defense in the league.
With these stats, you’d think that this young, growing defense would get even better with another offseason training program under their belts. And that fact alone would give the team the ability to go after an offensive player with their first pick, 19th overall, in the 2018 NFL Draft.
The Case for a Defensive Player
Well, then you’d be wrong. The Cowboys still have many holes to fill on a defense and it starts up the middle at all three levels of this defense. Opponents averaged 4.1 yards a carry against this team in 2017. And rushing numbers like that will not help you win your first Super Bowl since 1996.
The Cowboys need a serious upgrade at the defensive tackle position, which wasn’t consistent enough stopping the run last year. And linebacker is certainly a need due to Sean Lee’s injury history, Jaylon Smith still recovering from his drop foot and Anthony Hitchens currently being a free agent.
Finally, the Cowboys could use a physical safety that can come up and stop the run, but who is also able to cover. This is something they have been missing since Roy Williams left this team back in 2009.
If the Cowboys can solidify one or two these positions, then they’ll have a strong chance to get back into playoff contention.
The Case For an Offensive Player
According to the Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones, Dallas is going to make this a more Dak Prescott friendly team this offseason. But Jones has yet to define what he means by “Dak-Friendly”.
When you see a team fall from the 5th ranked offense in the league to the 14th, it is cause for concern. Now, people will point out that the suspension of running back Ezekiel Elliott really hurt this offense. And it did. But if you take a step back and think about it, you will see that the problem lies more with the Cowboys’ offensive line and receivers.
Dallas’ highly-touted offensive line continued to run block well as the team was 2nd in the league in rushing. But this O-Line failed when it was time to protect Prescott, especially on the left side of the line.
Left tackle Tyron Smith dealt with a back injury all season, while the left guards Chaz Green and Jonathan Cooper both failed to measure up to the abilities of Ronald Leary, who left last offseason in free agency.
Prescott didn’t get too much help from his receivers either. The group as a whole had a problem dropping balls and couldn’t creating separation from defenders. Whenever the team needed a big play from a receiver, it just seemed like they were unable to step up and make a play.
Next: Cowboys 2018 NFL Draft - 7 round mock 1.0
If the Dallas Cowboys go into this draft looking for a left guard, who has the ability to pass and run block or a receiver that has the speed to take the top off a defense behind a full season of Ezekiel Elliott running the ball, then I believe this offense can power this team to a Super Bowl.
Which side of the ball would you prefer the Dallas Cowboys go after with the 19th pick? Let us know in the comment section below.