Dallas Cowboys: Ranking biggest team needs in 2019 NFL Draft
By Randy Gurzi
2. Safety
Jeff Heath has been the starting strong safety the past two seasons and last year, he worked alongside Xavier Woods. While they got the job done, this was arguably the weak link in all of the defense. Dallas did already address this problem by landing George Iloka, but just like almost all of their free agent moves, Iloka received just a one-year deal.
There are likely two reasons for this. One is the fact that Dallas will need cap space to extend players such as Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott, Amari Cooper, Byron Jones, and Jaylon Smith soon. Another reason is they may feel like the veteran Iloka is just a bridge player until they can land their future starter.
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Whatever reason drives them more, the solution for this front office is to look long and hard at every available safety in the 2019 NFL Draft. This appears to be what they are doing as representatives of the team plan to meet with players such as Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, Johnathan Abram, Juan Thornhill, Khari Willis, and Taylor Rapp during their allotted 30 draft visits.
Looking at this list, it seems likely Dallas will target a safety to bring to Big D. Where they address this need is another story. Players such as Rapp, Thornhill and Abram would have to be second-round targets. Gardner-Johnson or Willis could be available in the third. One way or another though, Dallas needs to address this position as it remains one of their biggest needs ahead of the 2019 NFL Draft.