Free agency has come to a screeching halt as the 2020 NFL Draft approaches and the Dallas Cowboys continue doing their homework as the day nears. Whiteboard sessions and in-person interviews have turned into virtual conversations over video conferencing.
The Cowboys’ media department has been busy putting out some sneak peeks of the possible draft candidates for the team. While it could provide some insight into who the Cowboys could be drafting, it could also be a smoke screen for the upcoming draft. Let’s assume everything we see and hear now is disinformation, unless it comes from the mouth of someone who matters in Dallas.
Stephen Jones fits that bill for the Cowboys and he possibly spilled some draft hints in a recent interview with 105.3 The Fan. Jones’ comments make it clear he thinks the organization filled almost all of their defensive holes in free agency. All except for cornerback.
The Cowboys had a few areas they needed to address in the offseason, among the biggest were on the defensive line and in the secondary. By bringing in pieces to help fill those needs, Jones believes the Cowboys will be able to draft the best player available.
His words, “We’ll certainly look to improve there” seem to indicate that the club is taking very seriously their lack of replacing Byron Jones in free agency. It makes sense, Dallas had a very good player who signed for elite money and instead of signing an expensive lesser player, the club will likely look to the early rounds of the draft to get his replacement.
However, corner isn’t the only area they need to continue shopping. The signings of DT’s Gerald McCoy and Dontari Poe should not stop them from adding more of a presence on the interior of the defensive line. And the additions of DE’s Aldon Smith and Randy Gregory are far from sure things as the league drags their feet on their reinstatements.
Bringing in HaHa Clinton-Dix also should not stop Dallas from drafting a safety, just as keeping Anthony Brown or the signings of Maurice Canady or Saivion Smith won’t preclude the team from selecting a high-quality CB.
What the Cowboys have done in the off-season so far is exactly what Jones stated, they were “filling holes.” Defensive line is still a priority, as is the secondary.
Under new coach Mike McCarthy, the organization re-ran the same free agency playbook they had when Jason Garrett was in charge. They covered the weakest parts of the team in free agency so they aren’t pigeon-holed into a specific position when the draft rolls along. Aside from signing McCoy, there are no big name players who have been brought in, or any sizable contracts paid to anyone who wasn’t already a Cowboys.
That’s what Jones relayed to fans; they’ve covered themselves in free agency to make the draft less about need and more about selecting the best player available. It’s been the Cowboys’ steady blueprint for years now, only this off-season it feel like they added higher quality pieces because they had a little more cap space.
Who the Cowboys pick after filling their roster holes remains the biggest question. Dallas still needs improvements in several areas, hopefully they adhere to the best player available at a position of need rule in the draft.
Otherwise, what was the point of filling holes?
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