Dallas Cowboys training camp: Storylines, position battles and what to watch
By Randy Gurzi
3 Most important Dallas Cowboys departures
As is the case every year in the NFL, the Dallas Cowboys had to say goodbye to some talented players. This year, it seemed to be mostly on the defensive side of the ball. Here we look at their three most important departures, with the loss of Andy Dalton and Tyrone Crawford just missing the cut.
3. Xavier Woods, Cornerback
While losing Dalton means they no longer have a great insurance plan behind Dak Prescott, the loss of Xavier Woods edges that out for No. 3. Woods was a sixth-round pick in 2017 and developed into a full-time starter by his second season.
He signed with the Minnesota Vikings in the offseason on a very affordable contract after recording 247 tackles, 18 pass defenses, and five picks in his career. Woods had his worst campaign in 2020 but some of that could have been due to the issues they had with Mike Nolan’s scheme.
Perhaps it would have been good to see Woods under a different defensive coach but that won’t happen. With him out, the Cowboys are much thinner at safety than they would like to be.
2. Aldon Smith, EDGE
Last season, Aldon Smith proved to be a success story. He hadn’t played in the NFL since 2015 but made it back and played all 16 games in his return. Smith finished with 48 tackles, 5.0 sacks, and two forced fumbles.
He joined the Seattle Seahawks this offseason and while it means Dallas lost some valuable experience, it actually opens the door for Randy Gregory to start and become the player everyone expected him to be. There will be some concerns about depth and any injury could be detrimental but this is probably a move that needed to happen.
1. Chidobe Awuzie, Cornerback
Another loss that could be felt in 2021 is the departure of Chidobe Awuzie. Their second-round pick in 2017, Awuzie recorded 213 tackles with four picks in 49 career games. He was never a star but he wasn’t a bum either.
Without him, the Cowboys could be relying on several young players including Trevon Diggs and rookie Kelvin Joseph. There’s talent there but a lot of experience left with Awuzie. It was a move that probably needed to happen for both parties but it still will be felt.