Things are not going well for the Dallas Cowboys. After eight games, the team has only three wins. Their chances of making the playoffs grow slimmer with each week. Besides their inability to win back-to-back games, they have multiple things working against them. For starters, 13 of the 16 NFC teams (81%) also have at least three wins, so it’s a packed house when it comes to teams vying for a playoff spot. Second, the Cowboys have a brutal stretch of games in late November/early December when they’ll square off against tough opponents:
Week 12, November 23rd – Eagles, 6-2
Week 13, November 27th – Chiefs, 5-3
Week 14, December 4th – Lions, 5-2
Week 16, December 21st – Chargers, 5-2
Making matters even more difficult is that all of those teams have good offenses that should have a field day against this Cowboys defense. It’s not hard to see that a losing season could be on the horizon for this team, and that any shot at a real playoff run is slipping away.
Last week, the sentiment was slightly different, with some fans holding on to a glimmer of hope. There were many discussions about making a big trade to acquire a difference-making defensive player who might be able to help save the season. For many fans, the “win now” plan would have looked something like this:
It’s becoming clearer that there is no great savior out there. The defense’s problems won’t be remedied by one player, and the best thing for them to do is to save that draft capital and look for their solutions next year. Plus, in a week, we learned that the Raiders have no desire to trade Maxx Crosby. We also watched the defense get torched by the Broncos’ offense. Even the great offense we’ve seen all year sputtered, where they quickly found themselves in a hole they could never get out of. Things couldn’t have gone much worse.
So, obviously, they need a new plan. This plan should be centered around fixing the defense and maximizing the window where they have good quarterback play. This is tricky because it requires both patience and a willingness to be assertive. But there’s a path where they can make great strides in accomplishing such, and it could go a little something like this:
Re-sign George Pickens
Yes, this was also part of the “win-now” plan, but there really shouldn’t be any scenario where he is not a part of their future. They used a third-round pick to get him, and he’s been nothing short of fantastic since stepping on the field. The alternative is to use draft capital for one of the top collegiate receivers, but that’s a risky thing to do for two reasons: (A) you never know what you’re going to get, and (B) they need those premium draft resources for defense. Take the sure thing that is Pickens. He possesses a skillset that is not readily found, and when you have something great, it’s okay to shell out the funds to keep it.
Attack defense in the draft
This is expected. We all know this is where they need the most help, and several areas need addressing. Plus, the offense is stacked with talent that there are no pressing areas. The offensive line is set with four of its five starters, all young players who have been selected in recent drafts. This allows the team to focus most of its attention on defense. It’s also worth mentioning that the team does have a lot of young defensive players who are still finding their place on the team. This list includes:
DeMarvion Overshown
Donovan Ezeiruaku
Shavon Revel Jr.
Marshawn Kneeland
Marist Liufau
Shemar James
Some of these guys are going to work out, some won’t. After the conclusion of the season, they’ll have a stronger idea of which players offer promise and which areas need a major upgrade. If the Cowboys can find a way to add a few key pieces to this young group, the defense stands a good chance of being much improved in future seasons.
It’s easy to just say draft the best players available with their two first-round picks, but that’s a lot of draft capital. They might be better served to spread the love and acquire more picks. Since we expect them to go defense-heavy, they don’t want to reach for a defensive player, but instead move to where the cluster of defensive players live. This means they could use one of their first-round picks on an impact defensive player, but not both. Instead, use the second one to trade back and acquire more picks. Moving around in this manner could look something like this:
1st rounder #1 – draft an impact defensive player
1st rounder #2 – trade out of first round, get an extra 2nd and 3rd
2nd rounder #1 – draft an impact defensive player
2nd rounder #2 – draft a top collegiate RB
3rd rounder – draft an impact defensive player
Going with something like this allows them to have four top 100 picks instead of just three. They can still look to grab three strong defensive players and still have one premium pick left over for an offensive player. The team has been reluctant to spend top draft capital on a running back, but with the resurgence of their offensive line/blocking scheme, they should strongly consider keeping this a strength by acquiring one of college’s top runners.
Look for Dak’s replacement
When you look at all the talent on this team, it’s easy to feel optimistic about the future, as there are a lot of young pieces, and with all the upcoming draft capital, that talent will continue to get younger. However, there is one dark cloud hovering, and that is the eventual expiration of Dak Prescott. On one hand, it’s weird to think about replacing him as he’s having one of the best years of his career, but on the other hand, he’s 32 years old and has struggled to stay healthy in recent years.
It might be unpleasant to think about, but when are the Cowboys going to have an opportunity like this again? Unless they implode and have a dreadful season, they aren’t going to earn a top-five draft pick that would put them in position to take a top quarterback. However, with extra draft capital, they can trade that away and move up to get their guy. This should be something they consider when the 2027 draft comes around, as they’ll have two first-rounders that year as well. Prescott can still be the team’s quarterback throughout the duration of his contract while the new guy learns behind him, unless something happens that changes the plan. If the team somehow manages to transition from one good quarterback to another with a roster full of good players, it would be a huge win for the future of this organization.
See More:
