So far the Dallas Cowboys "selectively aggressive" offseason has produced some optimism, but there is still plenty to address. The next big opportunity is next week when the 2025 NFL Draft takes place in Green Bay.
Dallas' draft last year had more fans and analysts scratching their heads than feeling like it was going to help produce another playoff team.
All but seventh-round picks Nathan Thomas and Justin Rogers received playing time last season. That was largely due to the Cowboys not replacing players they lost in the offseason and having to rely on rookies to start a lot of games.
While Dallas' 2024 draft did fill needs mostly on the offensive line and depth on defense, this year's draft needs to be better. These are positions the Cowboys need to address in this draft they should have last year.
3 positions the Cowboys must address in NFL Draft
1. Running Back
Cowboys fans will all but lose their minds if Jerry Jones does not draft a running back this year. More importantly, they need to draft a back who could be a starter or at least a key contributor for the next few seasons. Dallas hit on Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard years ago. Now the Jones family and Will McClay have to hit on the position again.
This running back class is deep. While Omari Hampton and Ashton Jeanty are the darlings of this group, there will be backs on day two the team can select. Some names that might be there are Dylan Sampson from Tennessee and Raheim Sanders from South Carolina.
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With the signings of Javontae Williams and Miles Sanders, Dallas can afford to wait a little before taking a running back, but not too long.
Both Williams and Sanders are here on one-year deals and should not be seen as long-term solutions. The team needed to draft a running back last year and because they didn't, it cost them early in the 2024 season. With no running game, there was no balance with Elliott and Rico Dowdle both splitting carries.
Dak Prescott is not going anywhere, so this offense needs to find its true starting running back. Williams and Sanders can certainly contribute this season, but the Cowboys need a fresh face in the backfield they believe can be their bell-cow.
With Brian Schottenheimer looking to put more of an emphasis on the running game, the best move this team can do for his future as head coach is to find his starting running back in this draft. The Cowboys did not do that in 2024 and this organization cannot ignore that position for the second year in a row.
2. Wide Receiver
What this is specifically referring to is a true "No. 2 receiver". The Cowboys have not had anything like that since they traded away Amari Cooper.
While the team did draft Ryan Flournoy in the sixth round last year, he only received minimal playing time at the end of the year when Dallas was out of the playoff picture. The jury is still out on Flournoy, but this team needs to find another true receiving threat in this draft.
Some mock drafts are predicting the Cowboys to take Arizona's Tetairoa McMillan in the first round. That would certainly give them a great weapon to go opposite of CeeDee Lamb. Luther Burden has also been tossed around as another possible selection. Bottom line is this draft class has some helpful talent at receiver.
Lamb has proven he is one of the best in the league, but this passing game needs a serious makeover. Jalen Tolbert showed flashes last season and even finished second on the team in receiving yards. However, he is entering the last year of his rookie contract and so far does not appear worthy of a second one. Jake Ferguson was slowed by injuries last season, but still has some growing up to do despite a Pro Bowl season in 2023.
Outside of Tolbert and Ferguson, the only other receiving weapon on this team is KaVontae Turpin, but he is better known as an All-Pro kick returner. With teams doubling Lamb more and more, Prescott has very little to look to outside of him. In this draft, Dallas needs to find that receiver.
3. Left Tackle
Yes, Tyler Guyton is the starting left tackle for the moment, but this offensive line right now is in a serious rebuild. Guyton played in 15 games starting at left tackle as the replacement for future Hall of Famer Tyron Smith. Guyton hardly played left tackle at Oklahoma and it showed last season.
When Guyton was not struggling to pick up rushers to protect Prescott's blindside, he got called for penalties left and right. While every rookie makes their fair share of mistakes, Guyton looks more like a project that still needs work based on his rookie year. While it is too early to call him a bust, another rough season could have Guyton fighting for his job.
Dallas needs to try finding their starting left tackle again in this draft. If they can find a more suitable heir apparent to Tyron Smith, they can afford to move Guyton back to his natural position of right tackle. If that happens, Guyton could have a much stronger sophomore season.
While prospects like Will Campbell might be out of the question, there will be some linemen on day two the team could look at. Names like Kelvin Banks Jr. from Texas and Donovan Jackson from Ohio State might be there for the taking. Both also played at the left tackle spot in college which should give Dallas all the more reason to look at them.
With Prescott here through at least 2028, the Cowboys need to get serious about rebuilding this offensive line. They have a solid foundation with All-Pro Tyler Smith and promising new center Cooper Beebe, but there is still a lot of work to do.
Zack Martin has retired and Terence Steele has not looked the same since the ACL injury. If Dallas wants to get more great years out of their franchise quarterback, they need to rebuild a solid line to protect him. That needs to take a big step in next week's draft.