The 2023–24 Dallas Cowboys season was again another successful one. Mike McCarthy’s offense settled into a groove towards the end, Dak Prescott remained healthy, and Dallas’ defense proved to be among the best in the league.
The Cowboys were almost untouchable at home, and in the last moments, they overtook the Philadelphia Eagles as the best team in the NFC East.
Unfortunately, the NFC Wild Card Round came to an abrupt conclusion on Sunday at AT&T Stadium with a 48-32 defeat to the seventh-seeded Green Bay Packers.
The Cowboys ought to be back in the running for the playoffs the next season since so many of their star players have long-term contracts. However, McCarthy, club president Jerry Jones, CEO Stephen Jones, and vice president of player personnel Will McClay will need to put in some effort in order to rebuild or improve a squad worthy of the playoffs.
Now that Dallas’ playoff run is coming to an end, let’s examine what the team will likely do in the draft and free agency.
Free Agents
Unrestricted Free Agents
DE Dorance Armstrong
C Tyler Biadasz
OL Chuma Edoga
DE Dante Fowler Jr.
DT Neville Gallimore
CB Stephon Gilmore
CB C.J. Goodwin
DT Johnathan Hankins
CB Noah Igbinoghene
S Jayron Kearse
CB Jourdan Lewis
RB Tony Pollard
LS Trent Sieg
OT Tyron Smith
Potential Free-Agent/Trade Targets
The Cowboys have recently added budget pieces in free agency, pursued advantageous trade transactions, and re-signed important players as part of their summer strategy. For instance, Dallas selected Gilmore and wide receiver Brandin Cooks with their third-round draft choice this past year.Dallas may be interested in players whose contracts are about to expire or are unmanageable if clubs are trying to get out from under them. Expect a running back like Alvin Kamara or a pass-rusher like Joey Bosa to be on Dallas’ radar if they Һit the trade market.The Cowboys would likely prefer to spend heavily on their own players before pursuing big-money targets in free agency. If Dallas chooses to replace Gilmore with a top-tier young cornerback like L’Jarius Sneed or Jaylon Johnson, then this may be different.Given the Cowboys’ patchy run defense (Dallas ranked 16th in rushing yards allowed), a premier linebacker like as Lavonte David or Patrick Queen would also become a highly sought-after target.In actuality, however, Dallas most likely won’t have a significant impact on the first round of free agency. A guy like defensive lineman Teair Tart, center Aaron Brewer, safety Jordan Fuller, guard Jonah Jackson, and running back D’Onta Foreman should be more appealing to the Cowboys in the second and third rounds.As has been the case the last several years, expect the Cowboys’ greatest needs to be met in the draft.
Draft Targets
Dallas’ ability and desire to hold onto guys like Smith, Biadasz, Hankins, and Armstrong will probably be the driving forces behind their selection plan.An оffensive lineman may be the most valuable pick for the Cowboys in 2024 given the composition of the draft class. In its most recent 2024 big board, the Bleacher Report Scouting Department listed 11 linemen among their top 32 prospects.Trading up for a tackle like Alabama’s JC Latham may make plenty of sense—either to help replace Smith or to give an improvement the right tackle position, where Terence Steele has been a problem.Brandon Thorn of the B/R Scouting Department commented of Latham, “He needs added patience to counterbalance his attacking play style, but he has the tools, skill set and runway to start in year one with Pro Bowl potential within his first contract.”At the end of Round 1 or early on Day 2, Dallas may also take into consideration interior linemen like Zach Frazier of West Virginia or Jackson Powers-Johnson of Oregon. The Cowboys may decide to move Tyler Smith from guard to tackle in order to replace him.On Day 2, Dallas will probably be interested in defensemen like Utah edge-rusher Jonah Elliss, Texas A&M linebacker Edgerrin Cooper, and Clemson lineman Ruke Orhorhoro. Due to their dearth of linebacker depth, the Cowboys may need to replenish their defensive line.Dallas may also be interested in a defensive back early on, depending on how free agency plays out, such as Georgia cornerback Kamari Lassiter or Minnesota safety Tyler Nubin.The Cowboys don’t have many оffensive needs, except from the оffensive line. If Pollard leaves, the largest will be at running back. The Cowboys should be considering RB possibilities like Trey Benson of Florida State, Braelon Allen of Wisconsin, and Audric Estimé of Notre Dаme.The Cowboys shouldn’t anticipate finding much in the latter stages of the draft. They don’t have selections in the fourth, fifth, or sixth rounds as a result of trades. Dallas gets to work with two seventh-round picks in addition to its own choices in the first three rounds.