Dallas Cowboys depth along lines creates a good problem

After a concerted effort to build depth along the offensive and defensive lines, the Dallas Cowboys may too many good players which is a good thing.

The Dallas Cowboys have focused on improving their team in many facets, most notably in the trenches.

It all began in 2011. With the ninth overall pick in the draft, Dallas selected Tyron Smith. Six Pro Bowls and two All-Pro selections later, the Cowboys landed their possible Hall of Fame left tackle.

Ever since that time, Dallas has drafted either an offensive lineman or defensive lineman in every draft with one of their first three picks.

2012 – Tyrone Crawford, DL – 81st overall in round three.
2013 – Travis Frederick, OL – 31st overall in round one.
2014 – Zack Martin, OL – 16th overall in round one.
              DeMarcus Lawrence – 34th overall in round two.
2015 – Randy Gregory, DL – 60th overall in round two.
              Chaz Green, OL – 91st overall in round three.
2016 – Maliek Collins, DL – 67th overall in round three.
2017 – Taco Charlton, DL – 28th overall in round one.
2018 – Connor Williams, OL – 50th overall in round two.
2019 – Trysten Hill, DL – 58th overall in round two.
               Connor McGovern, OL – 90th overall in round three.

That is a lot of draft capital focused on building depth in the trenches. Of course, the Dallas Cowboys have also used free agency to augment their draft selections. This offseason, Dallas signed Christian Covington, Kerry Hyder and Robert Quinn to go along with their second-round pick in Hill. They also re-signed offensive tackle Cameron Fleming besides drafting McGovern.

Every single player drafted, aside from Green, is still on the active roster heading into the first official organized team activities in 2019. That would be impressive enough but once you consider the number of Pro Bowl’s and All-Pro selections already accumulated by Smith, Frederick, Martin and Lawrence, it is astounding.

All of this talent and depth is a really nice problem to have. The Dallas Cowboys are strong on both sides of the ball within the trenches. This is how very good teams are built. It shows in their record, even if it doesn’t translate to postseason success.

Dallas has won 72 games in the nine seasons since 2011 with just one losing season and three with ten or more wins. Looking forward to 2019, it will be very interesting to see how the Dallas Cowboys manage such a luxury.

As it stands right now, this is what their offensive and defensive line depth chart looks like.

LT – Smith, Fleming
LG – Martin, Xavier Su’a-Filo
C – Frederick, Joe Looney, Adam Redmond
RG – Williams, McGovern, Larry Allen, Jr.
RT – La’el Collins, Brandon Knight, Mitch Hyatt

DE – Lawrence, Charlton, Dorance Armstrong, Covington
DT – Collins, Antwaun Woods, Daniel Ross, Ricky Walker
DT – Crawford, Hill, Daniel Wise
DE – Quinn, Gregory, Hyder, Joe Jackson, Jalen Jelks

That’s a total of 13 offensive linemen and 16 defensive linemen that will be participating in training camp. Usually most teams keep eight offensive lineman and 10-11 defensive linemen.

One thing this depth along the offensive linemen will do is provide Dallas to accurately evaluate their backup quarterbacks. Too often over the last two years, Cooper Rush and Mike White have spent most of their field time running for their lives. This should not be the case in 2019.

Along the defensive line, the depth should allow Lawrence to heal from offseason surgery. It should also brace this team for the already imposed suspension of Gregory and a possible one for Crawford. Still, at least five players on each side of the ball will likely not being wearing the Star on their helmet come September 1st.

Maybe Dallas uses this depth in a preseason trade to acquire help where it may be needed elsewhere (hint: safety). Maybe the depth allows the Cowboys to move on from a disappointing first round draft selection or just provides insurance for any inevitable injury that may pop up. Either way, the depth that the Dallas Cowboys have built in trenches in a good problem to have.