The Dallas Cowboys finished on the outside looking in on the 2020 playoffs, and after a tumultuous stretch of months, are finally able to get back to business in preparation for the regular season. Dallas entered the offseason with a myriad of free agent decisions to make, ultimately bringing back Amari Cooper for the wide receiver corps, but letting DE Robert Quinn and CB Byron Jones go to other teams. They mad several additions, notably along the defensive line, grabbing Dontari Poe, Gerald McCoy and Aldon Smith.
The draft was widely seen as a success, as the team nabbed a new weapon for Dak Prescott, who wasn’t able to work out a long-term deal and will play under the franchise tag for just under eight times what he made his first four years in the league combined. What will it all turn into? According to Touchdown Wire’s Mark Schofield, a likely playoff berth. Dallas enters the training camp phase of work ranked No. 11 in the most recent power rankings.
11. Dallas Cowboys
Previous ranking: 11
This was a solid offseason for the Dallas Cowboys.
Having CeeDee Lamb fall to them in the first round was a two-fold coup. First, pairing him with Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup gives Dak Prescott a trio of talented receivers that will make his life easier. Second, it crushed the dreams of Philadelphia Eagles’ fans who were watching and hoping that somehow Lamb would get to them at either the 21st spot in the draft, or within a reasonable trade-up range. The draft might be a win for this pick alone.
On Day Two they made some selections that I personally graded poorly (which resulted in some brushback on Twitter) but can work if used correctly. Alabama cornerback Trevon Diggs does one thing extremely well: Press coverage. If he is used in that role this will be a home run of a pick, as he was someone viewed earlier in the process as a first-rounder that came off the board at 51 overall. The usage is critical to the success of the pick. Then at 82 they drafted Neville Gallimore, who has some technical things to improve but yes, represents great value at that point in the draft.
Beyond that, Reggie Robinson was identified as a sleeper here at Touchdown Wire and will immediately contribute on special teams. Bradlee Anae can get after the passer, and is a potential steal in the fifth round. Even Tyler Biadasz, also identified here at Touchdown Wire as a sleeper due to his slide down the draft board, is as steady as sit gets for a center. In all, a great draft, probably made sweeter for Dallas fans given what they saw Philadelphia do.
Of course the biggest question mark is the status of quarterback Dak Prescott. He will be playing under the franchise tag in 2020, but with the weapons around him, he should be in position for a huge season.
Dallas was the highest ranked of the NFC East teams, with Washington bringing up the rear at No. 28. Philadelphia, the reigning division champions came in at No. 14 and the New York Giants checking in at No. 25.
You can review the entire power rankings here.
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