5 major takeaways from Cowboys unpredictable 2023 NFL Draft
By Jerry Trotta
3. Cowboys identify as a defensive-first team
How can anyone draw any other conclusion? The Cowboys defense played well enough to beat the 49ers in the Divisional Round. It was the offense -- for the second year in a row -- that didn't get the job done on the big stage.
Dallas plugged its most concerning defensive hole by taking Mazi Smith in the first round, but that didn't stop them from selecting defensive players with two of their next three picks in DeMarvion Overshown and Viliami Fehoko.
This comes after the Cowboys traded for Stephen Gilmore and re-signed Donovan Wilson, Leighton Vander Esch, Johnathan Hankins and Dante Fowler.
Once thin at corner, Dallas now has one of the best duos in the NFL in Gilmore and Trevon Diggs. Once thin along the defensive line, Dallas suddenly has ample options on the edge and three viable defensive tackles in Smith, Hankins, and Osa Odighizuwa. Same goes for linebacker with Overshown filling in behind LVE and Damone Clark.
Make no mistake, the Cowboys identity is its defense.