Cowboys Free Agency: Prioritizing positions of need in 2023 class

Defensive Positions of Need

Priority Level High: Cornerback, Defensive Tackle

Priority Level Medium: Safety, Linebacker

Cornerback

The loss of Anthony Brown this season shined a light on the Cowboys’ deficiencies at cornerback, a team needs three quality cornerbacks in this league to slow or even stop an effective passing game. The Cowboys as they sit right now have two with Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland but they need more help on the perimeter in order to move Bland back into the slot. The Cowboys tried to find help in the draft and ended up with Kelvin Joseph in the second round, and that has been a disaster.

With that recent failure on their minds, they might look outside and if they aren’t able to keep Anthony Brown whose also a free agent they are going to need a backup plan. Someone with experience who isn’t afraid to step up and make plays in the running game.

Possible Options: Jalen Tabor, Artie Burns

Defensive Tackle

The Cowboys finally made an effort to add size at the defensive tackle position by trading for Johnathan Hankins mid-season and it had an immediate effect on the opposing teams running game. Unfortunately, Hankins is now a free agent and someone the Cowboys would really like to bring back but that shouldn’t limit them from seeing who else is out on the market worth signing. They aren’t going to break the bank trying to find someone but they may be able to get someone on a cheap deal.

Someone who can be just as effective as Hankins, someone who can take on double teams allowing linebackers to stay clean in pursuit of the running back. If they can find someone else along with bringing back Hankins this could be a very tough defense to beat next season.

Possible Options: Carl Davis, Dalvin Tomlinson

Safety

The Cowboys will still have Jaryon Kearse and Malik Hooker on the roster for the 2023 season but Donovan Wilson is about to be a free agent and the Cowboys are going to be looking for someone that can come in and replace Kearse if he were to ever go down with an injury like he did this season. The Cowboys have a young crop of safeties but it would be nice to see them add another savvy veteran. We know this team doesn’t like to draft safeties so we can only assume they will look to add on who can play special teams and backup Kearse or Hooker if needed.

I believe they will give this young group every opportunity to make this roster but if they see any situations where they are unsure of the talent they have they need to have a contingency plan in place and signing someone makes sense in this instance.

Possible Options: Marcus Epps, Karl Joseph

Linebacker

Much like their safety situation, the Cowboys have a young group that they really like but some of those players have dealt with injuries during their time in Dallas. They also have the best run-stopping linebacker Leighton Vander Esch hitting the open market once again this season and after a strong season, it will be a bit tougher to get him back unless he takes a team-friendly deal. This puts Dallas in another situation where finding someone who’s strong in the run game to come here in free agency if a deal can’t be worked out with Vander Esch.

The person should also be able to drop back into zone coverage and not be a liability on defense. There are quite a few good linebackers about to hit the open market and the Cowboys have an opportunity to get one if they don’t get Vander Esch.

Possible Options: Kwon Alexander, Deion Jones

4 high-profile Cowboys who are unlikely to return in 2023

The Dallas Cowboys season is officially over and these four high-profile players might have played their final snap with the franchise.