The Dallas Cowboys will have quite a bit of roster turnover from the end of the 2017 season to the start of 2018. We are seeing some of their best players moving on, which is why I thought it would be fun to identify the top 10 on both offense and defense who are remaining on the roster. Today, I want to start on the offensive side of the ball.
I understand not everybody will agree with my rankings, but that’s what makes it an interesting topic to debate. As such, feel free to provide your top 10 offensive rankings in the comment section.
#10 – LG, Connor Williams
Even though Connor Williams has yet to play a single down in the NFL, I believe he is already one of best offensive players the Dallas Cowboys have on the roster. He has the versatility to play any position along the offensive line, but is expected to make an immediate impact as the new starting left guard. He is going to make the Cowboys already talented offensive line even better.
#9 – WR, Cole Beasley
Cole Beasley isn’t the biggest or fastest wide receiver the Dallas Cowboys have on the roster, but he is the best route-runner and most dependable in the passing game. The argument could be made that Beasley is the best slot WR in the entire NFL. He will once again be expected to be Dak Prescott’s security blanket, but he really needs other WRs around him to step up their game so defenses can’t bracket him in coverage like they did last season.
#8 – RT, La’el Collins
Many of us had concerns about La’el Collins making the move to right tackle last season, but he proved to be up to the task. He held his own against some of the best pass rushers in the NFL last year and managed to play all 16 games for the first time in his career despite a back injury that caused him problems towards the end of the season. With a year of experience at RT, he has a chance to be even better in 2018.
#7 – WR, Allen Hurns
The Dallas Cowboys decision to sign Allen Hurns earlier in the offseason eventually made Dez Bryant expendable. Hurns is expected to be the top wideout this year and the season could depend on his playmaking ability. He may not be as physically gifted as Bryant, but he can play all three WR positions and create separation on his own due to his route-running.
#6 – QB, Dak Prescott
Year 3 will be an important season for Dak Prescott. He was simply exceptional his rookie season, but had his ups and downs last year in 2017. His ability to be a dual threat quarterback puts opposing defenses at a disadvantage, but in order to take the next step in his development he needs to improve as a passer. If he does that, he could climb a little higher on this list.
#5 – K, Dan Bailey
Dan Bailey is technically a specialist, but anyone that’s able to put points on the board and be as much of a difference maker as he has in his career for the Cowboys deserves to be in the top 10. 2017 wasn’t his best season in the NFL due to a groin injury, but there’s no denying how important he is to the teams success. He is after all one of the best/most accurate kickers to ever play the game.
#4 – RB, Ezekiel Elliott
Ezekiel Elliott is not only one of the best Dallas Cowboys players, but is arguably one of the best running backs in the entire NFL. He is a true three-down back and is dangerous anytime he has the ball in his hands. He consistently has to run against 8 or 9 man fronts and is still able to pick up chunk yards due to his vision and hard-nosed running. The offense simply isn’t the same without him on the field.
#3 – C, Travis Frederick
Travis Frederick may be one of the most underappreciated players on the entire Cowboys roster. But, that doesn’t negate just how important he is to the offense. He makes all of the pre-snap calls to identify blocking assignments, and helps keep the pocket clean for Prescott in the passing game. With Jason Witten gone, Frederick is the Cowboys new “Ironman” due to his ability to stay healthy and compete at a high level.
#2 – LT, Tyron Smith
Tyron Smith narrowly missed out at claiming the top spot on this list. He is without a doubt one of the best left tackles in the NFL, but his inability to stay healthy these last few years is concerning for not only the Cowboys, but his future as well. His importance to the offense can’t be stated enough though. The team just isn’t the same without him in the lineup, which we all witnessed last year. Hopefully, he can find a way to remain healthy for an entire season.
#1 – RG, Zack Martin
Believe it or not, but I believe Zack Martin is the best offensive player the Dallas Cowboys have on their roster and has all of the accolades to prove it. He has made the Pro Bowl every year since entering the NFL and has become the best offensive guard in the league. The Cowboys are still trying to lock him up long-term, but it will happen eventually. When it does, we can expect him to be the top paid guard in the league and deservingly so.
