The Dallas Cowboys 2023 NFL season was the fourth under head coach Mike McCarthy. They won the NFC East Division for the second time in three seasons and were tied for first place in the NFC with the San Francisco 49ers and the Detroit Lions.
Unfortunately, despite looking strong in the regular season, the Cowboys were eliminated by the Green Bay Packers in the Wild Card round.
With that in mind, what do the Cowboys need to do in the offseason to be stronger for the 2024 campaign?
Draft Picks
The Cowboys have the 24th pick in the first round of the draft and with Tyron Smith not getting any younger, they must target an offensive lineman.
There are at least three good options for Dallas in the first round of the draft, with Troy Fautanu, Amarius Mims, and Jordan Morgan all candidates to add to the strength of the Cowboys offensive line.
Smith still has the ability to perform at left tackle, but in the likely case that he should be injured again, the Cowboys are going to need someone to step up and deliver.
The inside linebacker position also needs to be addressed following the injury to Leighton Vander Esch last season.
With DeMarvion Overshown having torn his ACL, injuries left Dallas short, and they must strengthen the inside linebacker position.
Teams took advantage of the Cowboys’ weakness on the ground, and it should be strengthened in rounds two or three of the draft.
Jeremiah Trotter Jr. and Barrett Carter are two of the players who immediately come to mind.
Running back Tony Pollard enjoyed an excellent 2022 but struggled to maintain that standard last season.
He needs someone to help with the workload, with Jonathan Brooks and Braelon Allen as two top targets to strengthen the backfield.
If Dallas can make these moves, it will be worth checking their odds on betting apps Canada and backing them to reach the Super Bowl.
Renewing Contracts
The first step in preparation for the 2024 NFL season is to re-sign the players who could have a positive impact for the Dallas Cowboys.
Three players immediately spring to mind:
- Tyron Smith
- Stephon Gilmore
- Trent Sieg
The asking price will clearly have a role to play in re-signing these players but Smith is an easy decision despite being 33 years old.
The left tackle remains the best in his position for the Cowboys and should be re-signed.
Some players could be allowed to leave the Cowboys, with Michael Gallup and Leighton Vander Esch being two of the players who could leave to make room for new additions and free up some funds.
Free Agents
The Cowboys could have the funds to make a move in the free agent market, with defensive tackle Chris Jones being an obvious target.
The Dallas defensive unit has been one of the best in the league in recent seasons, but the signing of Jones could be the move that takes them to the next level.
Jones leads the way in many of the key stats for his position in the NFL and despite turning 30 ahead of the 2024 season, his presence would be a huge boost to the Cowboys.