The Dallas Cowboys didn't think the 2024 season was as big of a failure as the national media seems to believe it was. Jerry Jones chose to keep many big names intact, including keeping Mike McCarthy installed as the head coach.
With McCarthy and most of his coaching staff slated to come back, Jerry Jones is seemingly suggesting that his roster is good enough to make a deep postseason run. That may be true, but they won't accomplish anything in January unless some big changes are implemented soon.
These three changes should be at the front of Dallas' mind in the next few months. If these goals go unfulfilled, there should be no reason for fans to expect anything different from the nauseating slop they were served throughout the 2024 campaign.
3 changes Cowboys must make in 2025 offseason
3. Get a better backup quarterback
While the Cowboys didn't wither away and die on the vine with Cooper Rush as their quarterback, the benefit of a weak schedule helped Dallas pick up a few extra wins without Dak Prescott healthy. Rush's 6.0 yards per attempt showed off his comically weak arm and inability to excel beyond what his scheme allows him to produce.
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QB2 needs to be upgraded in the offseason, be it through a draft pick on Day 3 or a veteran quarterback who wants to give Prescott that added layer of security. Rush is solid, but this year may have been the best he can do.
2. Draft a defensive tackle
The regression, or stagnation, to be more accurate, of Mazi Smith was a tough situation for the Cowboys to watch. With Smith playing like a thoroughly average player, Dallas struggled to control the line of scrimmage and was often conceding big games on the ground against beatable opponents.
The 2025 NFL Draft is very deep at defensive tackle, both in the first round and Day 2. The Cowboys need to make one more big-name addition to the mix
1. Don't ignore running back
As impressive as Rico Dowdle was this season, one suspects that it may be tough for him to consistently replicate that yardage performance. With just two rushing touchdowns, Dowdle is far from elite. The only reason the Cowboys stumbled backward into this was foolishly trusting Ezekiel Elliott to play like his 2016 self at the start of the season.
Dallas needs to invest premium assets into a running back, be it in a draft stud like Ashton Jeanty or Omarion Hampton or a free agent that can compete with Dowdle for snaps. As McCarthy continues to aim for balance, an upgrade at running back is needed in the worst way.