The opening free agency window and NFL Draft are the two most common pathways to finding talent to add to your team. Considering the recent history of the Dallas Cowboys, it would not be a surprise to see the team sit back during the free agency frenzy. The draft offers cheaper and younger talent but at the cost of more uncertainty.
Dallas has a large list of needs to make their push for a Super Bowl. Turning to the draft should be looked at as another method, rather than the primary. The concerns up and down the lineup are worrisome. Here are four that you should keep an eye on.
4 biggest roster needs for Cowboys before NFL free agency
4. Linebacker
Often an underrated part of the defense, the linebacking core is the center of the unit. They bring together the defensive line and defensive backs. They control the unit, cover against the pass, and attack the offensive line against the run. Failure to have stability here can expose your team's weakness even more.
Once a strength in the late 2010s with the young duo of Jaylon Smith and Leighton Vander Esch, the unit has failed to remain consistent since the duo's injury struggles. The return of DeMarvion Overshown was promising before he himself suffered yet another brutal knee injury requiring surgery.
What remains are two veterans up for free agency in Erik Kendricks and Nick Vigil, an inconsistent and undersized Damone Clark, a promising sophomore in Mariust Liufau, and a possible shift back to the position for hybrid safety, Markquese Bell.
Long story short, the reliability the Cowboys have at the position is non-existent. They are undersized, too young and unproven, or too old and need a new contract. With the draft offering potential rather than certainty, looking to free agency should be the route the Cowboys' front office takes.
The crop of linebackers available in free agency is not that appealing, with the likes of Bobby Wagner, Kyzir White, Zack Baun, and De'Vondre Campbell highlighting the unit. The four are all in their late 20s or early 30s, and have a likely possibility of joining teams with a more clear path to winning a championship.
The Cowboys have had success drafting linebackers, although there is a weird trend of those who develop well ending up with injury issues. With only a handful of off-ball linebackers projected in the first two days of the draft, it's not a good year to bet on an immediate impact.
3. Wide receivers
I was leaning toward making this a pure wideout spot, but the recent lean to tight ends and their ability to change an offense changed my mind. The average player will not make much of a difference, but an elite talent, like George Kittle and Brock Bowers, can transform a good offense into a lethal one.
This comes at a time when a top tight end prospect will be one of the most sought-after players to watch at the upcoming NFL Combine. Penn State's Tyler Warren not only led the team in the three major receiving categories but is also a dependent blocker.
One can argue Jake Ferguson is more than dependable as the starter, with Luke Schoonmaker being a solid young backup. The former had a disappointing 2025 season, and the latter has not shown enough yet to be trusted.
Having versatile tight ends will help quarterback Dak Prescott a ton. Something he missed this past season was the reliable safety blanket underneath, which Ferguson failed to replicate from 2023. No wideouts stepped up in the role either, leaving superstar CeeDee Lamb as the only reliable option in the passing game.
Brandin Cooks did not look the same when returning from a knee infection and now, entering the final year of his rookie contract, Jalen Tolbert has played inconsistently. Someone needs to play alongside Lamb to bring this receiving core back to life.
At 32 years old as a free agent and off a disappointing sub-300-yard performance, Cooks is not dependable for 2025, leaving Tolbert as the returning piece as WR2. That is not enough.
Ripe with secondary receiving, free agency will be expensive but could be worth it. Tee Higgins tops the priority list but is followed by the likes of Amari Cooper, Keenan Allen, and Stefon Diggs as players with a disappointing 2024 season but a long string of success before then.
The tight-end free agency class is not encouraging; however, some under-the-radar targets could be what Dallas needs to hold them over. Tyler Conklin stands out as a solid option if they are unsure about Ferguson's future.
Whatever the front office decides to do, there needs to be someone who can make an impact now. If the team is to push for a Super Bowl as owner Jerry Jones said he wanted for some time now, whether he means it or not, one or two secondary receiving threats are needed.
2. Defensive line
Under defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, the defensive line was finally a dominant force after playing underwhelmingly since the departure of DeMarcus Ware. Now with former depth options moving with Quinn to Washington, a possible departure of interior rusher Osa Odighizuwa, and the aging and aching DeMarcus Lawrence's uncertain future, the defensive line is in critical condition.
Micah Parsons is arguably the best defensive player in the NFL, but that doesn't mean he can single-handedly run the unit. He needs help, especially when defending the run. Being an undersized lineman leaves him exposed when being targeted in the run game.
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The return of edge Sam Williams will help, along with the further development of Marshawn Kneeland, but neither has played at a starter level yet. The complementary pieces need someone to play off, and Parsons needs someone to step in once in a while.
The interior defensive line is more murky than the edge, with Osa being the only proven asset. Mazi Smith improved in his second year in the league but needs to show more to be a starter. Another step up is expected, but hanging the future of the unit on hope more than evidence has not worked out thus far.
Talented defensive linemen don't often hit free agency, and that is reflected in the current 2025 class. The top options on the inside are Dallas' own, Odighizuwa, B.J. Hill, Milton Williams, and D.J. Jones. On the edge, Haason Reddick, Josh Sweat, and Chase Young.
The draft offers many intriguing prospects along the defensive line, and should definitely get a good look from the Cowboys. Picking at 12th overall means the team will have all but four options to choose from according to Pro Football Network's mock draft.
Dallas drafted at least one defensive lineman within the first three rounds of the draft and attacked the defensive line multiple times in each draft since 2019. While not everyone panned out, for the most part, the team got a decent return on investment. Considering the need at the position, it's expected that the trend will continue.
1. Offensive line
Welp, it was nice while it lasted. The retirement of future Hall of Famer Zack Martin marks the end of the dominance of the Cowboys' trio of Martin, Tyron Smith, and Travis Frederick. The group is now its most concerning state since 2011.
The only reliable asset along the offensive line is Tyler Smith, whose position for the 2025 season is uncertain based on the team's needs. His play is among the best in the league at guard, but a possible desperation to have him shift out to tackle can come up. While it may solve a problem, it is best to let him dominate on the inside.
Cooper Beebe impressed as a rookie at center, but he needs to continue developing and prove it wasn't just a one-year fluke. The development of Tyler Guyton is critical. The Tulsa product showed flashes of containing the league's best, but also his volatility in having his technique fall apart. Their improvement can make the unit among the best in the league once again.
Uncertainty regarding Terrence Steele's performance and Martin's replacement after his retirement leaves one or two starting holes along the offensive line. Brock Hoffman and T.J. Bass are younger options to take a step up, with the former receiving plenty of praise for his impact on those around him.
There are a lot of linemen with expiring contracts, but the likelihood of many hitting the open market is slim. The likes of Robert Jones and Trey Smith will catch the attention of most teams looking for interior help if they can afford it. Dan Moore and Ronnie Stanley highlight the tackle class if available.
Offensive linemen are highly coveted in the draft. This time around, the class is expected to be lighter than usual. There are not as many NFL-ready players as there have been the past couple of seasons. The team has a strong history of hitting on drafting and developing linemen, but with all their current projected started outside Steele playing on their rookie deal, the unit needs a veteran presence.
On a positive note, there are pathways to solving the Cowboys' issues. The negative is that there is only $2.47 million in cap space to work with before working around current contracts on the roster. Working on the contracts of Steele and quarterback Dak Prescott can open up $50 million in cap space, so it's more than possible for the front office to make it work.
How much the team commits to winning in 2025 compared to looking ahead will play a significant role in how they attack their positional needs. After the lackluster follow-up to Jerry Jones' famous "all in" quote, learn to not judge by the front office's words, but by their actions.