The Dallas Cowboys are headed into one of the most important seasons in recent team history, and to exceed expectations they need breakout performances from unexpected players.
When you listen to the rhetoric from the team since their postseason loss to the Packers, it is, at least verbally, a team committed to getting over the hump.
If the Cowboys mean what they say, there is no room for error in 2024, or we will see a full-scale organizational shakeup.
Players, coaches, and everybody in the front office need to lock in this time around.
However, the 2023 group can not get it done on their own; there needs to be improvement to the roster. This does not just mean via the draft and free agency either. The Cowboys need guys already on the roster to step their game up next season.
There are too many holes on the roster and not enough money to throw around to fix everything this offseason.
There has to be a serious push to get the most out of guys who have yet to show up. Here are three guys the Cowboys are going to rely on to break out in 2024.
Mazi Smith — Nose Tackle
To say 2023 first-round pick, Mazi Smith, had a disappointing rookie season would be a major understatement.
Drafted 27th overall last year, Smith had fewer total tackles and the same number of sacks as 4th-year Defensive Tackle Neville Gallimore, who he was supposed to replace.
The Cowboys defensive line got virtually nothing out of Smith.
Additionally, reports have come out that they forced him to lose over 30 lbs since the draft, which is strange when you consider they drafted him to be a nose tackle.
Overall, Smith underperformed, and the organization bungled his development. That is just about as bad a mix as you can possibly have for a player’s rookie season. Heading into 2024, it is close to make-or-break time for the former Michigan Wolverine.
Dallas is already looking at potentially adding another big man to the defensive line, and new Defensive Coordinator Mike Zimmer is not going to give a guy he did not draft snaps on his name alone.
Smith is going to have to earn playing time, and even more than that, he’ll need to have a breakout performance in 2024.
If Smith plays to the level that Dallas drafted him to play, it would essentially be like getting two first-round picks in this year’s draft.
Between whoever the team drafts in 2024 and Smith making his first real impact, it could become a huge payoff for the Cowboys.
Jalen Tolbert — Wide Receiver
There is no better example of a guy needing a breakout season than former 3rd-round pick, Jalen Tobert. The 2024 season is the final chance for him in Dallas, and it may be his best shot yet.
If the Cowboys follow the plan we expect at receiver, they will cut veteran Michael Gallup, draft a rookie receiver in the first three rounds, and add somebody cheap to bolster depth.
This would give the Cowboys a depth chart of CeeDee Lamb, Brandin Cooks, and either that rookie or Tolbert as WR3.
For a guy who has just 24 catches in two seasons, that is a fantastic opportunity. It is also likely his last if he does not take advantage.
Jalen Tolbert came into the NFL with high expectations, and things started to fall apart pretty quickly. He caught just two passes in his rookie season, meaning his other 22 career receptions came this year, as did his only two touchdowns.
While his 2023 numbers are nothing to fawn over, they are an improvement and, perhaps, a sign that Tolbert could be up for a breakout year in 2024.
Between the existing relationship with Dak Prescott, familiarity with the offense, and time to develop over his first two seasons, Tolbert could have the initial leg-up on a rookie for opportunities.
There is still a chance for Jalen Tolbert to turn things around, and the Cowboys’ 2024 season is it.
DeMarvion Overshown — Linebacker
It is impossible to overstate how excited the Cowboys front office was when they drafted former Texas Longhorn, DeMarvion Overshown in the third round of last year’s draft. Unfortunately, that excitement was quickly shut down when he tore his ACL in the preseason.
This injury created a massive hole at linebacker. Overshown’s absence was especially missed once starting Linebacker Leighton Vander Esch suffered his season-ending neck injury.
One of the main focuses of this offseason is improving the linebacker room and getting a healthy Overshown back may be the biggest improvement of them all.
He has the potential to be the Cowboys’ best man at the position in 2024, but he must capitalize on that potential first.
The expectations for DeMarvion Overshown are sky-high, and it’s up to him to prove the hype right.
We saw how Terence Steele looked this season after his ACL injury; it showed players are not always immediately ready after an injury like that.
This means, despite the excitement about getting Overshown back, Dallas is not going to put away adding to the position because of him. You can expect them to target linebackers in the draft and free agency.
For Overshown, this means two things:
- Firstly, he’ll be surrounded by a lot of new faces in the linebacker room. His experience in Dallas, even if he did not play, could give him the upper hand early.
- Secondly, he will have to earn his time and prove that his injury is in the past.
Overshown has a great chance to have a breakout performance for the Dallas defense in 2024. It is just a matter of what he does with the opportunity.