After experimenting with a fact or fiction piece about two weeks ago, I decided I wanted to give it another run and provide three statements that are tied to the franchise.
Along with deciding whether each statement is fact or fiction, don't be surprised if you recognize a frustrating tone weaved throughout the piece since the franchise continues to make moves that don't make their team better.
Without further ado, check them out below.
“The team can still win a lot of games with this roster.”
I get the argument that it can be too early to determine the ceiling of the team since the roster is far from being put together, but does anyone know what direction the franchise is heading?
After finishing 12-5 and finishing as NFC East Champions, it felt like the Cowboys were finally going to breakthrough towards a Super Bowl run. However, the San Francisco 49ers came to town, and everyone knows how that went.
Going into the offseason, you would expect the franchise to make upgrades in free agency, retain most of their personnel for another run, but if you haven't kept up it's been the complete opposite.
After trading Wide Receiver Amari Cooper, releasing Right Tackle La'el Collins and letting Guard Connor Williams, Defensive End Randy Gregory, and Wide Receiver Cedrick Wilson walk in free agency, it feels like this team is only getting worse day by day.
Now moves can still be made, but the franchise has remained stagnant in pursuing replacements to improve their key positions, and I feel their win trajectory is trending downwards.
With that in mind, I'm calling it FICTION.
I understand the team still has key players in Quarterback Dak Prescott, Running Backs Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard, Wide Receivers Ceedee Lamb and Michael Gallup, Guard Zack Martin, Tackle Tyron Smith, Linebacker Micah Parsons, Defensive End DeMarcus Lawrence and Cornerback Trevon Diggs, but there are obvious holes in their team, and the front office is failing to address them.
If the franchise stays with the attitude of wanting to focus solely on retaining “their guys” instead of being aggressive (like many teams have been, as of late), then it's likely we're talking about who the Cowboys should draft high in the first-round next year.
“They should sign a veteran receiver instead of drafting one.”
With Cooper shipped off to Cleveland, Lamb and Gallup are now expected to be the new WR-duo next season, but Lamb may be riding solo on the field to begin the season.
In a tweet from ESPN Cowboys Reporter Todd Archer, Gallup told the media that he doesn't want to miss games, but he doesn't have a timetable on when he's going to be returning, so that may spell trouble early for the team.
Michael Gallup's goal is to be ready for the season opener off knee surgery “You don't want to miss games, but you can't put a timetable on it. But that's obviously the goal. You want to play as soon as possible, but you've got to make sure you're right before you go out there.”
— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) March 17, 2022
Beyond Lamb, the only available receivers are Simi Fehoko and Noah Brown. They bring in little to no experience, so it's evident the team needs to upgrade. If we debate whether that player can be signed in free agency or found through the draft, I feel like the best route would be to go with both options.
You can get a veteran presence to pair with Lamb for a fair price while Gallup recovers and add a wideout on a rookie contract that could contribute down the road.
If we look at some free-agent options, you have Jarvis Landry, Will Fuller, Jamison Crowder, Julio Jones, Juju Smith-Schuster, Cole Beasley, A.J Green, Emmanuel Sanders, and Cordarrelle Patterson, who can also lineup at running back and kick-returner for you as a bonus.
On the draft side, if the team goes wideout with the 24th pick, it's likely Arkansas Wide Receiver Treylon Burks, Penn State Wide Receiver Jahan Dotson, and Alabama Wide Receiver Jameson Williams are there.
My verdict for this statement is FICTION.
“The Cowboys need to open up the books and go all-in.”
If I had a megaphone, I would scream this statement 1,000 times till it got in the heads of the front office.
Okay, I'm exaggerating. Maybe not 1,000 times, but you get the point.
As teams around the league continue to acquire or trade for star players to stack their team, it seems the Cowboys have been fine staying complacent since they haven't signed one outside free agent yet.
While the AFC has had more moves, the franchise needs to realize that now is the time to chase those stud players to not only compete with contenders like Tampa Bay or Los Angeles but to take advantage of a wide-open NFC.
The team has come out and justified their moves were to clear cap-space, but if you're not spending money on anyone, what was the point then?
Sometimes you got to live in the present instead of worrying about the future, so just do it, Jerry. Pull the trigger and start it off by signing Linebacker Bobby Wagner.
Oh yeah, for those who didn't know my verdict, it's FACT 1000%.
