As we look at the Cowboys and their needs, one point strikes me with the most gravity. There are too many needs and the Boys cannot fill all the roster holes completely from the outside (FA/Draft). I don’t see the Cowboys looking for talent from only one direction, they will have to take a risk on some players already on the roster and trust that solutions coming from either FA or the draft fill the roster sufficiently.
I charted a few potential rosters and current players whom we will be counting on to step up are in italics. Free agents and draft picks are simply bolded. If you think you can do a better job, add your suggestion in the comments and I will add them to the post if they are worthy and rational. Later on I will add a poll asking which one was best.
Some notes: I got specific with important free agents and the top 3 draft picks. After that I hope you do not mind my lack of specificity. The vague designations would simply be depth players anyway. Feel free to do the same.
|
Position |
Team 1 (4-3) |
Team 2 (3-4) |
Team 3 (BPA) |
Ziggy |
|
Offense |
||||
|
QB |
Romo* McGee C. Hene (MIA) |
Romo* McGee Mid round pick |
Romo* McGee Late round pick |
Romo* Orton McGee |
|
RB |
F. Jones D. Murray* P. Tanner |
F. Jones D. Murray* P. Tanner |
F. Jones D. Murray* T. Richardson (1st) |
F. Jones D. Murray* P. Tanner C. Washington |
|
FB |
Fiamenta* |
Fiamenta* |
Fiamenta* |
Fiamenta |
|
WR |
Bryant* Austin* Ogletree Mid round pick J. Holley R. Radaway |
Bryant* Austin* L. Robinson (DAL) J. Holley R. Radaway |
Bryant* Austin* L. Robinson (DAL) J. Holley R. Radaway |
Bryant* Austin* L. Robinson (DAL) J. Holley R. Radaway D. Harris |
|
TE |
Witten* Phillips Late round pick |
Witten* Phillips Late round pick |
Witten* Phillips Late round pick |
Witten* Phillips G. Bryan (6th) |
|
OT |
Free* T. Smith* Parnell |
Free* T. Smith* Parnell |
Free* T. Smith* Parnell |
Free* T. Smith* Parnell |
|
OG |
Nagy* Koiser* Akrin Holland |
Nicks* (NO) Koiser* Akrin Mid round pick |
Nagy* Koiser* Akrin Holland Mid round pick |
Koiser* L. Nix* (4th) Akrin Nagy |
|
OC |
C. Meyers* (HOU) Kowalski |
Nagy* Kowalski Costa |
C. Meyers* (HOU) Kowalski |
D. Koppen* (NE) Kowalski |
|
Defense |
|
|||
|
DT |
Ratliff* Lissemore* J. Brent K. Coleman |
Ratliff* J. Brent |
Ratliff* J. Brent |
Ratliff* J. Brent |
|
DE |
Ware* Williams (HOU)* Hatcher Mid round pick |
Lissemore* Hatcher* K. Coleman M. Spears |
Lissemore* Hatcher* K. Coleman M. Spears |
Hatcher* C. Geathers* Lissemore Spears D. Hamilton (7th) |
|
OLB |
Carter* K. Morrison (BUF)* Albright Butler |
Ware* M. Ingram (1st)* V. Butler Albright |
Ware* Albright* V. Butler J. Massaquoi (3rd) Low Cost FA |
Ware* B. Irvin* (3rd) V. Butler B. Roy (4th) |
|
ILB |
Lee* B. Wagner (3rd) |
Lee* Carter* B. James (DAL) Low Cost FA |
Lee* Carter* Mid round pick Low Cost FA |
Lee* Carter* M. Kendricks (5th) |
|
CB |
Jenkins* Scandrick* Kirkpatrick (1st) Late round pick Low Cost FA |
Jenkins* Scandrick* J. Allen (HOU) C. Minnefeild (3rd) Late round pick |
Jenkins* Scandrick* T. Thomas (NYG) S. Gilmore (2nd) |
Jenkins* Finnegan* (TEN) Scandrick B. Boynkin (2nd) J. Taplin-Ross |
|
S |
Sensabaugh* M. Adams (CLE)* McCray Church M. Martin (2nd) |
Sensabaugh* D. Lowry (JAC)* McCray Church M. Martin (2nd) |
Sensabaugh* M. Adams (CLE)* D. Lowry (JAC) McCray Church |
Sensabaugh* M. Barron* (1st) Church McCray M. Butler |
|
Sp. T. |
||||
|
K |
Bailey |
Bailey |
Bailey |
Bailey |
|
P |
McBriar |
McBriar |
McBriar |
C. Jones |
|
LS |
Ladouceur |
Ladouceur |
Ladouceur |
Ladouceur |
* Starters
Team 1 brings in a solid center and banks on the guards. I like this bet, it gives the youglies opportunity and the vets will at least be serviceable if none of the youglies emerge. This option also leaves enough money and picks free to really make some improvements to the D as it shifts toward a 4-3. There are serious depth issues at LB, and those dreaming of Super Mario should take note of this challenge.
Team 2 solidifies the offense and makes smart buys on Defense. None of the FAs on D should be expensive but this unit will be boom or bust. This team is a lot like the Saints and Packers, where a strong offense could make for an opportunistic D.
Team 3 makes no splashes in free agency, but the small solid purchases set up BPA in the draft. I took T. Richardson but this could easily translate to a Q. Couples or DeCastro. Competition at guard, consistency at center, and real attention paid to the secondary. The versatility of Lowry and Adams allows the team to carry less CBs, and they will need to as they try quantity over quality at the LB position. In this situation we are really counting on our LBs, especially Carter, Butler, and Albright.
