Now that the NFL season is over, we can start thinking about how to improve going forward.
Although, for the most part, the group was good enough a season ago, I think a spot worth looking at this offseason is who will emerge as the Cowboys third option at wide receiver next year.
CeeDee Lamb put the league on notice, putting any doubt to rest whether or not he could become a true No. 1 wide receiver in this league.
Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb on Micah Parsons’ @BleacherReport The Edge podcast on the current Cowboys team: “The talent is there. We got to have discipline and that will to win. We got to be together. And we have to have the leaders. I feel like that was the difference, and it showed.…
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) February 10, 2024
More Consistency
Here is my take on the problem at hand. Lamb and Brandin Cooks are a very solid one-two punch.
Cooks came alive in the second half of the season and became a touchdown machine late in games with his corner route.
The issue with this unit is they don’t have a third guy they can depend on week in and week out.
Michael Gallup was supposed to be that guy, but what a disappointment he has been since signing that 60 million-dollar contract.
Judging a player based on their 2023 cap number is flawed.
But the fact that Michael Gallup has the eigth-highest cap hit for the #Cowboys isn't great!
There have been 9 games where he's been held to 20 or fewer yards.
— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) December 27, 2023
Jerry Jones signing him and trading Amari Cooper will forever haunt me.
Who Can Fill That Role?
Before I get into any draft options, how about Jalen Tolbert?
Tolbert had 150 fewer yards than Gallup and had 12 fewer receptions, but their yards per reception were nearly identical (7.4 for Tolbert, 7.3 for Gallup).
Tolbert also had a better catch rate (55.6 percent to Gallup’s 50.9) and only averaged nine fewer yards per game (24.6 to 15.8).
Here is the catch: Gallup started 13 games compared to Tolbert’s six. He had 612 offensive snaps, while Tolbert had 477.
Jalen Tolbert outsnapped Michael Gallup for the second-straight week.
— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) November 24, 2023
For a player making that much money, these numbers shouldn’t even be close!
If they cut Gallup post-June 1 they can save over $9 million in space. The answer is pretty simple, it is time to cut Gallup.
My honest guess is that Jones will hang onto Gallup, and once again say that he “loves his guys,” after telling us he plans on going “all-in,” in 2024.
Jerry Is All Talk
If they can make it work, I would add another wide receiver, and add a new running back, offensive line, linebacker, and defensive line through the draft.
Once they restructure some deals, get enough room to spend some money, go get a guy like Gabe Davis.
https://twitter.com/PFF/status/1750216905879904594?s=20
Plenty of blame can go around for why this team can’t win when it matters. Dak Prescott, the defense, whomever.
This team needs more playmakers at the end of the day.
When you look at every team that made it further than Dallas, they have dudes on both sides of the ball.
Patrick Mahomes is going to go down as the greatest ever, and he still has Travis Kelce.
Look at their defense.
It was loaded.
They won because of them this season.
The culture in Dallas is a problem. I like the Mike Zimmer hire to help them grow up on defense, but McCarthy needs to start holding these players accountable.
It gets old writing about what I think can help the Cowboys each year, and the same result happens.
Jerry Jones, if you mean what you say, go all in like the Rams did a few years ago, and then please stop talking.
Unfortunately for Cowboy Fans, the main problem is the QB1, not the WRs. it’s apparent to most but I guess not all yet. Been commenting here for years. When I first criticized him back then, some other commenters called me all kinds of names. Now I don’t get any of that as most informed fans see the writing on the wall already.
Wow, Mahomes will “go down as the greatest ever”. How exactly do you know that? Sounds like someone has been watching a lot the sport MSM and drank some premature koolaid.
Brady has played in 10 SBs and WON 7, 21-7 TD/INT ratio, 98 pass rating. Plus, he switched teams and won one with a team that was under .500 the year before. So Mahomes is not even close there and will probably never will be.
Joe Montana, 4 SBs 4 WINS, 11-0 TD/INT ratio, 128 PASS RATING. ZERO INTs
Mahomes, 4 SBs 3 Wins, 7-5 TD/INT ratio, 85 pass rating. And if not for that freak punt return where the ball hit a Niners leg and Chief got a short field, Mahomes/Chief would not have won. Basically, potential a 14-point turnaround or at least Chiefs getting 7 really cheap points. Not to mention the missed PAT.
Vam,
The problem with that is you can’t possibly think you can plug someone like Ryan Tannehill as QB1 and win 12 games every year, it won’t happen. Andy Dalton couldn’t do it, Kyle Orton couldn’t do it, Brandon Weeden couldn’t do it. Dak is an above average QB that can do what 90% of the league can’t and that is make the playoffs every year. I am not on board with Dak winning anything beyond the division, but look at the QB play this year, it was not good. You can’t dumb him and get better. The 49ers weren’t going to sniff the success they’ve had the last two years unless they traded for CMC. You have to place playmakers around guys on both sides of the ball.
As for your point about Mahomes, everyone wanted to crown Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson as the best in the AFC this year and Mahomes went on the road and beat them both in his worst season EVER, then proceeds to score a touchdown to win the game when it mattered. He couldn’t do it all game, but when he had to be great, he did what he always does. Seven seasons, four trips to the SB and won three of them. He is 28… If he plays anywhere near the age of Brady he will win more than 7.
We can agree to disagree, respectfully. You bring up CMC, but didn’t DP have the BEST RUNNING BACK in the league, Zeke, who I put on the same level if not better than CMC his first 3/4 years.
As far as Mahomes, when I see it, I will believe it. Only time will tell, but as of right now, I don’t see it happening. Just my take.
I’m a longtime Cowboy fan, and I would put Staubach ahead of Mahomes. 27-year-old rookie b/c of military service, 4 SBs winning 2. Two very close losses to a great Steeler team. Who knows what he could have accomplished if he had those 4 prime early years.
Mahomes has a great start, but that can end any time. Any “greatest” talk is premature. As for Dak… **sigh** Look, he’s a good QB. He puts up solid numbers most years and does make the playoffs, however, an important part of a QB’s performance is the intangibles. You won’t find those in stats. Maybe he matures mentally enough to actually lead this team, not just occupy the designation of leader but be the difference maker when the rest of the team is falling flat. Doubt it, though. He’s had plenty of time and opportunity. Doesn’t mean he’s going anywhere, just that we need to be less committed.
Failed to mention, in the Brady/Mahomes head-to-head SB, Tampa vs KC;
Brady 3-0 TD/INT, 126 pass rating.
Mahomes 0-2 TD/INT, 52 pass rating.
KC got buried, 31-9.
But I understand the NFL hype machine/sport MSM wanting to make some silly comparison fodder going to keep fan interest. It’s their meal ticket. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves here with “BEST EVER”. It’s WAY, WAY too early for that. Mahomes is very good no question, but Chiefs got one massive (and one smaller) break Sunday which gave them the win.