FRISCO, Texas – The Cowboys recognize the need to revamp their offensive line, as well as the need to make some decisions, particularly the Amari Cooper trade.
But they have never considered a reconstruction. Team America is forced to compete every year in hopes of reaching the point they have missed since the 1995 season, the Super Bowl.
Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones acknowledged that drafting offensive line early in the draft is no longer optional, it’s a necessity, particularly with the departure of starting left guard and right tackle Connor Williams and La’ the Collins, respectively.
Thus he put together what already seems like a legendary offensive line, which was considered the best in the entire league a few years ago, anchored by three players who arrived in the first round of the draft: Zack Martin, Tyron Smith and Travis Frederick; the second with difficulty in recent years to play full seasons and the third already retired a couple of years ago.
“We’re going to get one (lineman) unless a (CeeDee) Lamb or (Micah) Parsons is out there,” Jones said.
Jones referred to the opportunity he had to draft Lamb in the first round a couple of years ago, when the team’s main need wasn’t wide receiver and Parsons’ most recent draft pick, after his top two cornerback prospects they were chosen earlier.
The linebacker finished 2021 as the team’s best defensive player and NFL Rookie of the Year.
“If I don’t, I’m going to have to take the heat,” Jones added of going for offensive linemen or the best available player, who might be in his analysis.
Jones spoke to reporters at the NFL Team Owners Meeting in Florida, where he discussed just about anything he’s had to do with personnel this offseason.
He said the trade of Amari Cooper to the Cleveland Browns was due to financial issues. The receiver was scheduled to earn $20 million in 2022. His departure cleared $16 million on the salary cap.
“We feel like we could spend the money better,” he said.
He also acknowledged the need for reinforcements to pressure quarterbacks after defensive end Randy Gregory left for Denver.
The reality is that the Cowboys know that to compete next season, after an intense offseason in which there have been more high-profile player changes than usual or having to let some others go, it has been difficult.
The money “saved” by Gregory’s rejection still leaves room for free agency later on. But talent is increasingly scarce and the price is higher in many cases. That is the main reason why talented players are still available.
In addition to offensive and defensive lines, there are obvious needs, such as depth at linebacker and wide receiver.
“There’s a lot of activity at first, then things settle down,” Jones said. “We’ve found good length over the years just by being patient and seeing what comes our way. But we’re not done yet.”
The draft will also be so essential to strengthen the team that the head coach himself, Mike McCarthy, is so focused on it that he didn’t even want to go to the Board of Owners. He has preferred to go through the college talent tests that various schools are conducting to showcase their top prospects for the next pro draft.
At the end of the day, for a team that won its division 12-5 but was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs in its own stadium, there is work to be done and decisions to consider in an unusual offseason. for the Cowboys…
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The Cowboys continue to build the team