FanPost

What should the Cowboys do in the offseason about their roster?

Well, that sucked. After touting our run defense all year, and completely stuffing the Seattle Seahawks, the Rams' powerful offensive line and CJ Anderson just took it to our defense, and we had no answer. Todd Gurley was the change up back, not the other way around. What a move for the Rams to add Anderson to their attack!! It might get them a Super Bowl, because Jared Goff certainly wasn't the key to the Rams' victory tonight.

There were a few key plays we'd all like back. The Byron Jones hands to the face penalty was probably the biggest one. That was a 7-point mistake. The play call on the 4th down we didn't make wasn't the best either. And the refs were particularly bad at spotting the ball. Gallup was tackled at the 1, not the 2. Noah Brown on 3rd and 14 was arguably at the sticks, not a yard back (the one we didn't make).

But, we got stomped by a superior team. By miracle, we might have come back, but we were just beaten up this game. The team has to turn it into resolve to change things next year. We still have the youngest roster in the NFL. So what do we need to do to get better?

Let me do this by position group.

OFFENSE

Quarterback

Dak Prescott is our franchise QB. He's signed through next year, then he'd be free. Don't mess around. Sign him to an extension. It's going to cost in the mid 20 million range per year, but you have to do it.

We need better backups. Cooper Rush would be a disaster if he were ever called on. I would consider signing RG3 if the Ravens let him go. The offense wouldn't have to change much. You could keep Mike White as a developmental guy.

--- Dak extended, a new primary backup, and Mike White

Running back

Zeke can be extended by picking up his 5th year option in 2020, so though I think Zeke wants an extension, I would probably wait a year.

Rod Smith is a free agent. I might keep him on a minimal deal because his brother is on the team, and he can play special teams well. But the Cowboys really need a better backup RB who can spell Zeke.

Darius Jackson is just a guy.

--- Zeke (not extended), Smith, and a new guy to be the primary backup to Zeke

Wide Receiver

Amari Cooper needs to be extended this offseason.

Michael Gallup should be much better in his second season.

Cole Beasley is a free agent. It depends on how much he wants and for how long to see if it's worth keeping him. You need someone like him. If his cost is around $5M, I would keep him for 2 years.

Allen Hurns is due $6.25M. That's more than he's worth. His dead cap is $1,25M. Potential savings $5M.

Tavon Austin is a free agent. He has value as a punt returner, but he can't stay healthy. I would let him go.

Terrance Williams is signed for a cap hit of $4.75M next year, or a $2.5M dead cap hit. Everyone thinks he's gone, but I would want the team to evaluate him when he's healthy for training camp. You need depth somewhere, and his cost is essentially $2.25M. If he can play, that's pretty cheap.

Noah Brown Is under contract and will return. He still has a lot of work to do just to make the roster.

Cedrick Wilson is in the mix.

If Beasley returns, Cooper, Gallup, Beasley will get most of the targets. A fourth guy could be Terrance Williams, Noah Brown, or potentially Cedrick Wilson if he shows he's ready. It could also be Allen Hurns, though hopefully at a reduced rate if he's kept.

-- Cooper extended, Gallup, Beasley re-signed, and some combo of T Williams, Noah Brown, Cedrick Wilson, and possibly Allen Hurns. Consider drafting someone.

Tight End

Geoff Swaim is a free agent. I'd let him walk. He's been injured a bit too much, and isn't dynamic enough in the passing game. He had negative DVOA and DYAR.

Dalton Schultz is signed for several years. Keep.

Blake Jarwin is signed for next year, then an RFA in 2020. Keep. Likely your lead TE.

Rico Gathers is just like Jarwin. Keep. He's a very good blocker. Get someone who can teach him to run routes so he catches at lease some passes.

This is a tough one. Neither Jarwin nor Schultz block well. Can we really expect them to become consistent threats in the passing game? It's a risk the Cowboys might have to take.

The Cowboys could draft a tight end, but they'd be like Schultz this year. 3rd on the depth chart.

They could sign Jared Cook, but he's 32 and will want $5M a year. If you sign Cook, he becomes the lead guy. Jarwin, off the Giants' game, ended up with a higher DVOA than Cook. But Cook was 5th in DYAR. If you sign him, he becomes a kind of progress stopper. But he'll help you win.

The Cowboys can't really help their passing game that much by adding more receivers. Cooper, Gallup, Beasley (if he returns) are going to get most of the targets.

But they can help themselves by having a consistent TE threat.

-- Let Swaim walk, sign Jared Cook for 1-2 years, keep Jarwin, Schultz, and Rico

Offensive Line

Travis Frederick. His return might be the most important change to the offense.

Tyron Smith, Zack Martin, La'el Collins are all under contract, and will return as starters.

Connor Williams needs to beef up so he can anchor. He'll return.

Joe Looney, Xavier Sua-Filo and Adam Redmond are under contract for next year, and should return

Parker Ehringer is coming off injury, and is in the mix as a backup.

Cameron Fleming is a free agent. We need to bring him back as we don''t have anyone else to play swing tackle.

-- Smith, Williams, Frederick, Martin, and Collins should start. Have to hope Frederick is at full strength, and Williams makes a leap, because offensive line is the key to having this team play better next year. Lookey, Xua-Filo, and Fleming are backups, with some additional guys behind them.

DEFENSE

Defensive Line

Demarcus Lawrence needs to be extended. I thought we should have done it last year and saved a lot of money.

Taco Charlton, Maliek Collins, Dorance Armstrong, Randy Gregory and Antwaun Woods are all signed.

David Irving is likely facing further suspensions and has to be let go.

Caraun Reid is a free agent.

Tyrone Crawford is signed through 2020. His cap hit is $10.1M next year, with a $4.2M dead cap. I think you have to keep him. He's versatile, and a leader (with Lawrence) of this group.

-- With Lawrence, Gregory, Charlton, Armstrong, and Crawford, the team remains pretty deep outside. The challenge is inside, with only Collins, Woods, and Crawford. Need to add to the D line, either through the draft, or find another gem off the scrap heap.

Linebacker

LVE, Jaylon Smith, and Joe Thomas are all under contract. As is Chris Covington. Justin March-Lillard is an RFA.

The big question is Sean Lee. He's signed for $10,075M, with a dead cap of $3.25M if you cut him. Cowboys need to save the $7M and let him go. Bring him back as a coach when he's ready.

If you let Lee go, you keep Thomas as insurance, though he's expensive.

Damien Wilson is a free agent. Let him go. Shouldn't be that hard to replace his snaps.

- LVE, Smith, Thomas, Covington, and TBD

Defensive Backs

Byron Jones is under contract. Extend him.

Chidobe Awuzie and Jourdan Lewis are under contract.

Anthony Brown has one year left. I would think about extending him too, if you can get him cheaply.

That would lock up your CBs for two more years before you have to make decisions about Awuzie and Lewis.

Jeff Heath is signed through next year, as is Kavon Frazier

Xavier Woods is signed through 2020.

-- I would make improving at safety a priority. I don't know that I'd go for Earl Thomas, because I think Woods has done very well on the back end. And the team would be better served putting its resources elsewhere. But I would think about drafting someone fairly high if he's the right fit.

-- Essentially return the whole secondary, but look to improve at safety, and extend Byron Jones and Anthony Brown if you can.

Specialists

JP Ladouceur can have a job until he decides to retire.

Brett Maher is likely good enough, though competition should be brought in.

Chris Jones had a down year. He's signed through 2021.

Punt and kick off returners. Cowboys really need a punt returner. Cole Beasley was horrible. Tavon would have been so much better, but he is too brittle. Look for a punt returner.

Coaches

Jason Garrett is going to return, for better or worse. They might extend him. His players play hard, and he does well at roster building.

Scott Linehan needs to go. Not sure who the replacement should be, but the Cowboys need freshness to their offense.

Rod Marinelli could return. He normally does a great job with the defensive line. What happened tonight must have petrified him.

Kris Richards is likely to return, as it seems as if Miami is looking at a NE coach. He might be elevated to defensive coordinator next year.

Keith O'Quinn has to be let go. Special teams were awful this year.

CONCLUSION

This isn't a major overhaul. The Cowboys are young and good, and with experience will get better.

Where will the team improve?

1. New offensive coordinator to extract more out of the personnel we have.

2. Return of Frederick at center (we hope) and improvement of Williams at guard. The offensive line is the key unit.

3. Dak Prescott will continue getting better, as the team builds around him.

4. Sign a free agent tight end like Jared Cook, so you don't have to rely on the improvement of Blake Jarwin and Dalton Schultz. Having a bigger receiving threat at TE could make a very big difference in the offense.

5. Get a better backup to Zeke, and use him, so they stay fresh. CJ Anderson just showed us the value of this.

6. Sign a free agent backup QB who isn't too expensive. I think RG3 makes sense if Baltimore doesn't keep him behind Jackson.

7. Beef up the defensive line. Use all means necessary. We have found some gems. Keep looking.

8. Develop our young WRs, as we lock up Amari Cooper.

9. Re-sign Cole Beasley for 2 years. We don't have anyone with his quickness.

10. Keep hitting HRs in the draft.

The draft will be critical again. BPA should be the approach. What do we need? Possibly tight end, if Cook isn't signed. Safety. Offensive tackle who might take a couple of years. Defensive tackle. It will be hard for the draft picks to crack the lineup, as you can see returning starters at pretty much every position.

This team is still solid, and getting better. Tonight we got crushed in the trenches. And, even so, we had a chance. We need to get the offensive line to return to the form of 2016 or 2014 or at least much closer than we've been in the last two years. And we need to strengthen the front 7 on defense.

That's my first take.


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