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.
The Top-10 upcoming free agent WRs 👀 pic.twitter.com/X0zRoZCtSV
— PFF (@PFF) January 24, 2024
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.
