We’re getting close to training camp and it won’t be long before we get a better feel for how the Dallas Cowboys’ offseason moves are going to play out. It’s as if the team makes its share of controversial decisions every season. Sometimes, the cowboys end up looking like geniuses, and other times their miscalculations come back to sting them. What will it be this year?
Before we pass too much judgment, let’s look back at the last half-dozen offset seasons and re-evaluate the front office’s performance because we have the benefit of hindsight. Did they do it the right way? What things worked and where do you keep messing up? Grab a snack and let’s revisit some of the work the Cowboys front office has done in recent years.
2017
Major departures | was replaced by | has been replaced via |
---|---|---|
Major departures | was replaced by | has been replaced via |
Brandon Carr | Chidobi Uzi | Draft |
Barry Church | Xavier Woods | Draft |
Ron Leary | Jonathan Cooper | Free agency |
Maurice Claiborne | Jordan Lewis | Draft |
The Cowboys lost a significant portion of the secondary in 2017, starting with Brandon Carr leading all defensive players with 1,011 snaps that year (96%). Other defensive backs lost are Barry Church (64%), JJ Wilcox (53%) and Mo Claiborne (38%). Fortunately, they were able to find strong replacements in the draft in Chidobe Awuzie (second round), Jourdan Lewis (third round), Xavier Woods (sixth round).
The team was also fortunate when Jonathan Cooper was able to sign a low-cost contract and former first-round pick from tackle and replacement Ron Leary at left guard.
2018
Major departures | was replaced by | has been replaced via |
---|---|---|
Major departures | was replaced by | has been replaced via |
Des Bryant | Michael Gallup | Draft |
Jason Whitten | Dalton Schultz | Draft |
Anthony Hitchens | Leighton Vander Esch | Draft |
Jonathan Cooper | Connor Williams | Draft |
The Cowboys had an outstanding draft year in 2018 with four of their first five draft picks covering key losses that occurred in the offseason. In addition to the list above, they also drafted Dorrance Armstrong to replace Benson Mayowa who led the team in sacks in 2016.
But their biggest loss that year came at the wide receiver position when they released Dez Bryant, let Brice Butler leave in free agency, and moved away from Ryan Switzer. The Cowboys remedied this by not only drafting Michael Gallup at last, but also by signing free agent Allen Hearns and trading for Tavon Austin. It turns out that it’s not enough for the team to give up a future first-round draft pick to acquire the midseason services of Amari Cooper.
It should also be noted that although neither Chaz Greene nor Byron Bell were considered a major loss of the season, their poor performance the previous year caused the team to place a stronger emphasis on the swing tackle position and signed veteran Cameron Fleming. It was a wise move as Fleming started three games each of the next two seasons when Tyron Smith was injured.
2019
Major departures | was replaced by | has been replaced via |
---|---|---|
Major departures | was replaced by | has been replaced via |
Cole Paisley | Randall Cobb | Free agency |
David Irving | Robert Quinn | commerce |
Rod Smith | Tony Pollard | Draft |
The Cowboys’ losses that season were relatively insignificant. Many thought they would miss Cole Beasley, but signing Randall Cobb was just what they needed as he finished 2019 with 55 catches for 828 yards. He had more receiving yards than they had from Beasley in all but one of his seven seasons in Dallas.
But the real upshot for the Cowboys was the acquisition of future sixth-round veteran tight end Robert Quinn and a one-year $8 million cost. Quinn would restart in Dallas leading the team with 11.5 sacks and it was his first double-digit sack season in five years.
2020
Major departures | was replaced by | has been replaced via |
---|---|---|
Major departures | was replaced by | has been replaced via |
Byron Jones | Trevon Diggs | Draft |
Travis Frederick | Tyler Biadache | Draft |
Robert Jones | Aldon Smith | Free agency |
Randall Cobb | Sir Lamb | Draft |
If there was ever a time in the offseason to remind people what the Cowboys were and weren’t good at, it was 2020. They kicked things off by spending more money than usual on outside free agents that included Gerald McCoy, Iverson Griffin, Dontary Bowe, and ha-ha Clinton Dix. Alas, some of these men have never seen the field, and those who have seen it have not seen it for a long time.
Fortunately, the Cowboys had a similarly killer draft pick in 2018 with four of their first five draft picks filling the voids left by some of their biggest departures. Starting with the sudden availability of CeeDee Lamb, the team is immediately upgraded from Cobb. Then, Trayvon Diggs fell to their lap in the second round making a Byron Jones loss more likely. And even the unexpected re-retirement of Travis Frederick was addressed when they managed to hit another target Pro Bowler Wisconsin Center at Tyler Biadache.
The Cowboys also secured another reliable swing tackle in Cam Erving who replaced Cameron Fleming who signed with New York Giants.
2021
Major departures | was replaced by | has been replaced via |
---|---|---|
Major departures | was replaced by | has been replaced via |
Shawn Lee | Micah Parsons | Draft |
Chidobi Uzi | Kelvin Joseph | Draft |
Xavier Woods | Jaron Kerse | Free agency |
Tyrone Crawford | Osa Odigizwa | Draft |
By this point, the Cowboys’ front office had become extremely sold-out in their operation and focused all of their attention on the draft. They still signed many outside players, but nearly all of them were low-cost one-year investments. This included Carlos Watkins ($1.75 million), Jeron Kersey ($1.1 million), and Malik Hooker ($920,000). They also signed another reliable swinger relatively cheaply in Ty Nsekhe ($1.75 million).
Their only real “misstep” was offseason banking in one of the upper league corners that was available when they were on the clock on the first day of the draft. Fortunately, that got them to score defensive sensation Mika Parsons but forced them to roll the dice too early on Kelvin Joseph as they looked for another outside cornerback to replace the departing Chidobe Oze.
2022
Major departures | was replaced by | has been replaced via |
---|---|---|
Major departures | was replaced by | has been replaced via |
Amari Cooper | Galen Tolbert | Draft |
Randy Gregory | Sam Williams | Draft |
Lyle Collins | Jason Peters | Free agency |
Connor Williams | Tyler Smith | Draft |
Cedric Wilson Jr | James Washington | Free agency |
Blake Garwin | Jake Ferguson | Draft |
Last year was a scary off-season as they moved on from three key players in Amari Cooper, Randy Gregory and La’el Collins. New acquisitions like Dante Fowler, Sam Williams, and more snapping snaps from Parsons helped them never miss Gregory because the Cowboys had one of the highest winning rates in the NFL. They also didn’t miss La’el Collins as Terence Steele showed everyone why the Cowboys are so wise to fire the veteran right tackle.
The player they missed was Amari Cooper, who taught the Cowboys that they had no alternative. With so many different options that included free agent James Washington, third-round draft pick Jalen Tolbert, former USFL MVP KaVonte Turpin, and young running back Simi Fiocco, you would think someone would present themselves as a viable option, but only Noah Brown would. raise his counterpart. Game. And with Gallup still not fully healthy, this put the Cowboys’ passing touchdown in a difficult position.
And now, moving on to the season…
2023
Major departures | was replaced by | has been replaced via |
---|---|---|
Major departures | was replaced by | has been replaced via |
Conor McGovern | Choma Eduga | Free agency |
Dalton Schultz | cleaner look | Draft |
Ezekiel Elliot | Ronald Jones | Free agency |
Carlos Watkins | know smith | Draft |
Noah Brown | Brandine cooks | commerce |
Luke Gifford | DeMarvion Override | Draft |
This season, the Cowboys have done an excellent job of upgrading a few positions starting from the spot that upset them last year, wide receiver. The team traded for Brandin Cooks’ smart break. And although some don’t consider Anthony Brown a major loss, he was still their best outsider after Diggs. The Cowboys traded for Stephon Gilmore and now had two strong outside linebackers. Carlos Watkins’ contributions have been great, but drafting Mazie Smith will give them some much-needed strength along the inside defensive line. The eventual loss of Dalton Schultz will be a distant memory as his place will be taken by the more athletic Luke Schoonmaker.
The Cowboys still have a few questions, starting with who will start at left guard for them in 2023. Between Leary, Cooper, and two Connors, the team has managed to survive over the years, but it’s anyone’s guess who fills that role this year. Last year’s first round investment, Tyler Smith, may be their best choice.
Finally, all eyes will be on the running game as the backfield will be without Ezekiel Elliott for the first time in eight years. It’s Tony Pollard’s offer now, but the team hopes new additions like free agent Ronald Jones or sixth-round rookie Deuce Vaughn can help ease some of his workload.
summary
Although not all of them are successful (Amari Cooper), the Cowboys show a very high percentage of being right when they exit big contracts or allow major shareholders to leave Dallas for a bigger pay. They’re also very smart about finding these low-cost third-party proxy shareholders year after year. They don’t beat them all, but the investment is too small to hurt them when they miss out. And they hit just enough to make a difference. In fact, of the defensive players who recorded at least 275 snaps last year, 29% (five players) were outside free agents signed at a bargain price.
And of course, the beauty in all of this is that this team is one of the best drafting teams in the NFL. The evidence is right in front of us. From all-around pros in the early rounds to solid draft picks later, this team does really well when it comes to the draft. Do they strike all the time? Of course not, but their success rate is amazing.
Finally, “Roster building can’t just come from a draft” is a mantra cited by many of us, and with good reason. There must be more. When the Cowboys are able to trade a delayed capital project for a seasoned veteran in a needy area like Robert Quinn, great things happen. That’s why we’re so excited about the Cowboys offseason this year because they’ve done it not just once, but twice with the acquisitions of Gilmore and Cooks. This is how you spend the capital project on the third day.
The Cowboys seem to know what they do well and do more of it while avoiding the things they don’t do well (spending big in free agency). Hopefully, the moves they made this season will serve them well and provide a better blueprint for how to move forward.