NFL.com projects the Dallas Cowboys to be a top five offense in 2021

About a month ago the Dallas Cowboys spent almost all of their draft picks on the defensive side of the ball. While there were a lot of things that plagued America’s Team in 2020, at the very top of that list was a subpar defensive group. Early on in the season when Dak Prescott was healthy, the Cowboys simply could not get even average play from their defense which was making things all the more difficult for them.

Time will tell exactly how good the Cowboys offense is this coming season, but it stands to reason that it will be near the top of the league production-wise. Just what can we expect from Kellen Moore’s group this coming year, though?

NFL.com projects the Dallas Cowboys to be a top five offense in 2021

Offensive success in the NFL isn’t exactly predictable, but it is far more stable than production on the other side of the ball. Given that the Cowboys were performing at a high level last season it makes sense that they would pick up on that and be one of the better groups in the league.

NFL.com’s Cynthia Frelund projected the top 10 offenses in the league for 2021 and had the Dallas Cowboys ranked number four. That would be pretty solid.

The 2021 Cowboys are extremely lopsided, with a win-share projection of 6.03 on offense and 2.97 on defense/special teams. With Dak Prescott returning from a major injury, Dallas has a risk at the backup QB position (Cooper Rush and Garrett Gilbert). And the ‘Boys also have concerns along the offensive line. While Zack Martin forecasts to be my second-highest-rated guard (top RG, but second overall among guards to Colts LG Quenton Nelson), the line as a whole sits outside of my top eight ahead of camp, where we’ll get a better look at the unit’s status.

Zack Martin’s position on the offensive line will obviously go a long way at helping the entire group as will the hopefully stable presences of both Tyron Smith and La’el Collins.

While it is not true for technical reasons given that La’el Collins did not play for the Cowboys at all last season, Dallas is returning all 11 of their intended starters from last season. The headlines are made about Dak Prescott and the time that he missed, but keep in mind that Collins missed the whole year, that Blake Jarwin was lost in Week 1, and that Tyron Smith was lost shortly after.

Offensively the group more than sustained itself in 2020 with subpar play at quarterback and a rotating group of players along the offensive line. Stability is key for anything, but having it on the side of the ball that scores points, specifically at the game’s most important position, is a big deal.

For what it’s worth, the only offenses that Frelund has projected to outperform the Cowboys in 2021 are the Green Bay Packers, Kansas City Chiefs, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Dallas will play two of those teams this coming season and will obviously have to go shot for shot in some instances if they want to win.