The Dallas Cowboys still have to work to do. Currently, the offseason isn't on their minds. With three games left, players still have to prove that they belong here beyond the 2015 season. That's what the coaching staff will focus on. For me, however, I'll be getting started on the draft process, something I've already looked into for about the past two weeks now. Let's take a look at the Cowboys' five biggest draft needs.
1) Cornerback
I understand that the Cowboys need to find the Cowboys' successor to Tony Romo. However, with Morris Claiborne likely going elsewhere in the offseason, Brandon Carr likely to be released, and Byron Jones likely to make the move to free safety, the Cowboys find themselves without much talent at the cornerback position. The return of Orlando Scandrick will be huge, but the Cowboys need to look into drafting another cornerback early in the draft. Jalen Ramsey or Vernon Hargreaves fits the mold.
2) Quarterback
Not only do the Cowboys need to find Romo's successor, they also need that successor to be Romo's understudy. In case Romo gets injured again, the Cowboys need something better than Matt Cassel or Brandon Weeden to come in and play. Dallas' top pick will provide desires for top quarterback prospects like Paxton Lynch or Jared Goff, but the Cowboys would serve better to wait until the middle rounds to develop a guy like Carson Wentz.
Tyrone Crawford doesn't get the attention he deserves. He consistently splits the middle and gets pressure on the quarterback. Amazingly enough, he does all of this without much help from the 1-technique defensive tackle next to him. Nick Hayden isn't a bad player, but he's not a starter-level player. The Cowboys need a space-eater. A'Shawn Robinson or Kenny Clark makes sense.
Although Dez Bryant hasn't looked the same in 2015, it's worth being mentioned that he's been banged up all year and when you don't practice often with a bad quarterback, years like this are bound to happen. I'm not worried about Bryant. I'm not worried about Cole Beasley. I am worried, however, about both Terrance Williams and Devin Street. Neither has done much in their careers. If Dallas really wants to add a playmaker across from Bryant, grabbing Laquon Treadwell in the first would be a risky move that would be worth it.
I was thinking about putting safety here, but I truly believe that Byron Jones will make the transition to free safety, perhaps as early as this offseason. Defensive end is somewhat of a priority because the Cowboys should let Greg Hardy walk. It was a good attempt, but the move really backfired, even though Hardy was productive on the field.
It never hurts to add more pass-rushers. Randy Gregory and Demarcus Lawrence look like foundational pieces, but a guy like Joey Bosa or Robert Nkemdiche paired with a guru in Rod Marinelli would simply be insane.
