The 2019 season isn’t even over yet, but that does not give any grace period to the NFL teams looking to make an immediate beeline to the key dates in this years offseason. For the Dallas Cowboys, this means addressing the obvious in-house issues …
The 2019 season isn’t even over yet, but that does not give any grace period to the NFL teams looking to make an immediate beeline to the key dates in this years offseason. For the Dallas Cowboys, this means addressing the obvious in-house issues with upcoming free agents and of course the hours and hours of research done for the 2020 NFL Draft.
Which key moves made in 2019 were the best and worst? One of Dallas’ contract signings made the list. There’s a bright look ahead to the 2020 Cowboys and their immediate future. What are the team’s problem areas? Also there’s some discussion of the upcoming draft, all in today’s News and Notes.
Reflecting on some of the moves from 2019, the jury is still out. Topping Dan Graziano’s list is the contract extension given to running back Ezekiel Elliott. Elliott’s holdout dominated headlines throughout training camp, and he returned only when the Cowboys made him the highest-paid back in the game. Only he didn’t proceed to play like the best back in the game. Finishing fourth in rushing yards was no slouch effort, to be sure, but Elliott’s output didn’t exactly quash the whispers the team may have overpaid for his services.
–TB
More evaluation of the season gone past, this time from NFL Network analytics expert Cynthia Frelund. The Game Theory specialist looks specifically at ten units across the league who didn’t live up to expectations or otherwise hurt their team’s chances of winning.
To the surprise of no one in Cowboys Nation, the Dallas secondary made the list. Frelund flagged the group for allowing a league-high completion percentage on first down throws and a league-low interception total.
–TB
Defensive end Michael Bennett may really be the most interesting man in the NFL. After a midseason trade brought him from New England to Dallas, the Super Bowl champ and three-time Pro Bowler made a significant impact on the defensive line. But he didn’t make any trips to the bank.
In this fascinating piece that also leans on a September report from CNBC, it’s revealed that Bennett purposely doesn’t use direct deposit for his sizable game checks during the season, opting instead to collect his paper checks and deposit them all at once when the season is over. “To make sure I don’t spend any money,” he says.
–TB
South Florida always seems to put on a good Super Bowl show, providing some truly memorable moments throughout the big game’s history there. None of them, though, are particularly good ones for Cowboys fans. Dallas has claimed the Lombardi Trophy five times, but never in Miami. Their three Super Bowl losses, though? Incredibly, every single one of them came in the Magic City.
Maybe it’s a relief that the 2019 Cowboys didn’t get anywhere close to hopping a postseason flight bound for MIA.
–TB
RJ Ochoa breaks down a few questions Cowboys fans may have headed into the 2020 NFL Draft. Vice President of Player Personnel Will McClay spoke with the media from the Senior Bowl about what their focus may be on with some of the bright young stars on their draft board. “They might want bigger interior players, so, that’s fine, we’ll go and look for that. But I think we’re going to be looking for the same type players,” McClay said in his brief interview.
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The rumblings of a possible theft may take place is of the NFC East Division Rival Philadelphia Eagles to take away Cowboys starting cornerback, Byron Jones in free agency. McClay addresses this as well as what caliber player he feels Jones is and has been for the team.
–DS
B/R breaks down some of the brightest young stars to take the next step in 2020. For the Dallas Cowboys, with questions looming about starting cornerback, Byron Jones, The team may need a breakout performance from Jordan Lewis.
If Jones makes a break for the highest bidder, this can open up a huge opportunity for Lewis to start on the other side opposite of Chidobe Awuzie. Lewis made quite the impact in the 2019 season racking up four sacks and two interceptions and that was from his role as a nickel backer, though he did spend some time on the outside when Awuzie was benched against Philadelphia.
–DS
Everybody loves competition. According to Rob Phillips, the team signed kicker Tristan Vizcaino and defensive tackle Justin Hamilton to their Reserve/Future List.
Vizcaino had two tryouts with the team while they were searching for a replacement for Brett Maher. Ultimately the Cowboys went ahead and signed Kai Forbath for the remaining 3 games of the 2019-2020 season. That was a move that paid off greatly as he went 10 for 10 in field goals and 10 for 10 in extra points. Forbath is eligible to become an unrestricted free agency in March. Camp battler or replacement? Time will tell, but everybody loves competition.
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Defensive tackle, Justin Hamilton, was signed in October of 2019 as soon as Tyrone Crawford was thrown on the IR but was soon let go by the team when the Cowboys opted to trade for Michael Bennett. Clearly the Cowboys saw something in Hamilton then and would like to see more heading into the Offseason.
–DS
