Ranking Dallas Cowboys positions of need in the 2023 offseason
Tier Two Positions of Need for the Dallas Cowboys
Defensive Tackle, Linebacker, Kicker, Running Back, Safety
Defensive Tackle
The Cowboys from a pass rush standpoint are one of the best in the league, but when it comes to stopping the run they fall to 22nd in the league. Clearly, changes need to be made and the Cowboys front office noticed it when they traded for Johnathan Hankins, but that was a one-year rental with Hankins heading into free agency along with Carlos Watkins. Combined the Cowboys are losing a total of 473 snaps on the defensive line and they need to find players to bring in that can effectively stop or slow opposing teams running games.
Instead of taking a defensive tackle later in the draft the Cowboys should try and take one earlier than they have in the past, especially if they want to find someone who can affect the running game the way Hankins was able to when he joined the team.
Linebacker
A position that comes a close second in terms of tier-two needs for the Cowboys has to be the linebacker position. The Cowboys have continually invested in drafting players at linebacker and this draft should be no different. Dallas will have Leighton Vander Esch, Anthony Barr, and Luke Gifford all hitting free agency and will need to bring in someone to fill the role that Vander Esch played for the Cowboys.
The Cowboys have Damone Clark and Jabril Cox who have the potential to take over in that role but Cox has had injury issues and Clark showed flashes of his potential but still has work to do. Taking another linebacker on day two would be a solid move for this team.
Kicker
I’m not sure how often we’ve seen Cowboys games come down to a final second field goal to pick up a win but one thing is for sure you need a reliable kicker on your roster, one you have full confidence in. Dallas thought they had that when they brought back Brett Maher in 2022 but after the complete collapse he had leading up to the playoffs it was clear the Cowboys were going to move on from him at the end of the season. Now the Cowboys are back at square one in terms of finding a kicker whether it be in free agency or through the draft.
Running Back
Dallas is not going to let Tony Pollard leave the building and will work on locking him up for the foreseeable future. Where the Cowboys’ issue at the position comes into play is what are they going to do with Ezekiel Elliott? Elliott has clearly lost a step but the front office’s love for him could cloud their judgment in thinking he still has something left in the tank. The Cowboys have to draft another running back who can come in and compete for that backup role to Pollard. The team likes Malik Davis and he could very well fill that role but they still need to add another young running back to this roster.
Both Jerry and Stephen Jones were adamant they want Ezekiel Elliott to return next season but Stephen reiterated it “has to work financially” for both sides.
— Nick Eatman (@nickeatman) February 1, 2023
Safety
The final tier-two position of need for this team is the safety position, with Donovan Wilson heading into free agency this season and Malik Hooker and Jayron Kearse in 2024 the Cowboys need to add players at this position in preparation for the future. This is another position the Cowboys haven’t been aggressive enough in trying to find in the draft, mainly settling for older or recently cut safeties to come and fill in for a year or two. They need to finally address the need at this position and draft one or even two safeties they think have the potential to be solid players in this league.