The 2015 season has been a tough one for fans of the Dallas Cowboys. Yes there were injuries to key players like Tony Romo, Dez Bryant, and Orlando Scandrick, but those injuries cannot be the reason for the Cowboys’ lack of success this past year. 2016 should bring greater fortune for the Cowboys, but the 2015 season outcome may mean a top-ten draft pick. If that is the case, guys like Jalen Ramsey, Robert Nkemdiche, and Vernon Hargreaves would all be huge for the defense, but the Cowboys may serve better to pick an offensive player in the first round.
When you look at this offense, the offensive line is in place for the next five years or so. The Cowboys have their quarterback and while they should also look in the draft for a running back, another year of Darren McFadden will actually only be better for the team. Nevertheless, drafting a running back should be high on the priority list, but the Cowboys should address that priority later in the draft rather than the first round.
On the outside, Dez Bryant is a terrific receiver, even though the injuries have hampered his year. Besides Bryant, however, the Cowboys have a bunch of complementary guys, some of whom haven’t proven they belong long-term just yet. Cole Beasley is a real good football player, but he’s nothing more than a complementary receiver who excels at moving the chains on third down.
Across from Bryant is Terrance Williams, a guy I have struggled with for a few seasons now. Williams makes the big play occasionally, but he has a hard time catching the ball with consistency. When you pair that with his lackluster route-running skills, the Cowboys should look to the draft for a receiver and one guy that makes a ton of sense is Laquon Treadwell. Devin Street is a polished receiver, but he’s slow and he hasn’t shown much when the Cowboys decide to put him out there.
Despite the gruesome injury he had last season, Treadwell is a proven player that reminds me a lot of A.J. Green. He has the speed and athleticism to bring down the deep-ball and he possesses the hands and route makeup which allow him to catch intermediate passes.
By drafting a guy like Treadwell, the Cowboys would have a true complement to Bryant. I’m not saying that this needs to be the move, but it would be a move that would immediately help a franchise who wants to make it further than the divisional round in the playoffs.
Treadwell is # 88 in a Ole Miss jersey. Need speed opposite Dez.,to make the defense respect the passing game
Going WR in the first round makes a ton of sense. Williams has been exposed as a borderline number-two who simply cannot be your top guy if Dez misses games. You can take a guy now to form a power duo with Dez and then likely replace Dez when the big contract expires. The money at that point can just shift from one to the other, keeping the cap happy.
I'm 100% in agreement with this.
And let's be realistic: turnovers aside (which I maintain is a scheme issue, not a player issue), the Cowboys defense has been pretty solid in 2015. Not great, but solid. They're 16th in points allowed (not great) but they're 6th in yardage. And as we are all keenly aware, the points allowed can be deceiving because there have been quite a few offensive turnovers and quite a few short fields due to poor QB play in Romo's absence. They could make a few minor tweaks on defense for 2016 and be just fine, I think.
Our real issue in 2015 has been a lackluster offense. We can rightfully blame Brandon Weeden and Matt Cassel for some of it, as well as Dez Bryant having a down year for whatever reason, but I think it's clear the Cowboys need a much more talented #2 receiver and they need something in the run game.
They've invested wisely in the offensive line to try and keep Romo upright, but a new receiver and a new runningback are two other things that can help keep Romo upright and prolong his career.
And of course, I'm still not opposed to going quarterback in the 1st round if the situation is right.
As much as i want Hargreaves or Ramsey or Bosa or even Elliot Rd 1 i agree with the point of this article Tony with 2 #1 wr's over 1 #1 and 2 #3's makes alot of sense. wr lack of ability to get open and open up the running is what has hurt Dallas more then anything this year even more then injuries