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Three biggest questions as Cowboys head into week one of 2021

The Cowboys will have to solve these issues for a successful season.

NFL: Dallas Cowboys OTA Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

With Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers quickly approaching, there’s still some questions that were left unanswered after a long training camp and preseason for the Dallas Cowboys. While it will come down to how these guys play when it matters, these are the three biggest question marks on the Cowboys roster heading into week one.

3. We know who the swing tackle is, but who is the swing tackle?

NFL: Dallas Cowboys Minicamp Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

A position Cowboys fans are becoming more and more worried about at the start of each season is the swing tackle spot. Tyron Smith is aging and still dealing with his fair share of injuries, but it’s La’el Collins who causes more worry about starting and getting through a season. With Ty Nsekhe seemingly getting the nod for most of the offseason, Terence Steele’s name was recently mentioned by Mike McCarthy when discussing the game plan if Collins can’t go on Thursday. While we think the swing tackle is Nsekhe, are we comfortable with that after the struggles he had throughout the preseason?

2. What’s the deal with the defensive tackle

NFL: Dallas Cowboys at Arizona Cardinals Billy Hardiman-USA TODAY Sports

One of the only major injuries the Cowboys suffered this offseason was losing starting defensive tackle Neville Gallimore. Losing Gallimore for the first month or so of the season is a big blow to the Cowboys interior defensive line that already lacks top-end talent and strong depth throughout. With Gallimore sidelined, Brent Urban, Carlos Watkins, and rookie third-round pick Osa Odighizuwa will share most of the snaps on the interior of the defensive line until Gallimore can return. Rookie Quinton Bohanna will see a bigger workload at nose tackle due to the Gallimore injury, but with two rookies slated to play big roles, and two journeyman veterans expected to start, the Cowboys interior defensive line is a huge question mark heading into the season.

3. The Cowboys corners are going to be bad

NFL: Dallas Cowboys at Arizona Cardinals Billy Hardiman-USA TODAY Sports

There is plenty to be excited about with Trevon Diggs in year two, but everything else behind him is currently a mess. Anthony Brown and Jourdan Lewis are expected to start again this season opposite of Diggs and in the slot. Behind the three starters, veteran Maurice Canady is slotted in at the fourth cornerback slot, rookie Nahshon Wright is currently holding on to the fifth corner spot, and rookie second-round pick Kelvin Joseph is on injured reserve. Cowboys fans, let me warn you: this group is going to struggle. Anthony Brown and Jourdan Lewis are below average starters, Maurice Candy is a career role player, and Nahshon Wright is a rookie third-rounder, with a long ways to go. Teams that are built around their passing game, and have two or three go-to wideouts are going to feast on this secondary, unless the defensive coordinator and the revamped safety room can play well above their means.

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