The Dallas Cowboys’ 2023 season has officially ended, and some downfalls must be addressed over the offseason.
Although most fans are still getting over the shocking elimination by the Packers, the offseason is here, and they can reflect on ways the team can improve next season.
So, what are some of the roadblocks the Cowboys can start to address and repair before next season’s beginning?
Being Thin at Linebacker
The Cowboys need to address the apparent hole at the linebacker position. With Leighton Vander Esch and DeMarvion Overshown suffering season-ending injuries, it’s clear that the team was thin at the position.
It is still unclear if Vander Esch will return to the field, as he has dealt with reoccurring neck issues throughout his career. As for Overshown, he is expected to return for the 2024 season, but it could take more time for the young linebacker to establish himself after the season-ending torn ACL he suffered in the preseason.
The position’s duties were put on Damone Clark and Markquese Bell, two second-year players still developing and learning. Bell is a converted safety-to-linebacker, which can have advantages in his ability to diagnose offenses, but he clearly needed more time to establish himself as a linebacker this season.
Meanwhile, Clark took mentorship from Vander Esch for the last two seasons and has shown improvement. However, he could work on reading opposing offenses better going forward.
Whether the front office addresses the thin linebacker room in the draft or free agency is still to be determined, but there needs to be a more sustainable solution.
Creating an Offensive Identity
As for the offense, the biggest issue is the need for an identity, aside from QB Dak Prescott and WR CeeDee Lamb’s chemistry. With the team leaning on a West Coast offense, there was never a consistent offensive identity when the receiver didn’t have a productive game.
A recurring issue this season was ball distribution, which expects to give Lamb the ball more. Aside from Lamb, there was not a consistent presence.
Sure, TE Jake Ferguson and WR Brandin Cooks were factors in the passing game for Prescott, but their involvement could have been more regular.
The running game, which had been the team’s identity for years, struggled this season. RBs Tony Pollard and Rico Dowdle are set to hit free agency, so the running back room could look very different.
Establishing an identity outside of depending on the defense’s success will be vital next season.
Retain Impactful Talent
Change will be inevitable with 14 players on the Cowboys’ roster set to enter free agency. Although other factors go into retaining talent in free agency, such as big contracts and extensions that must take priority, keeping key players for the 2024 season will be vital.
The players that will be free agents this offseason are:
- OL Tyler Biadasz
- RB Rico Dowdle
- DT Neville Gallimore
- OL Chuma Edoga
- LS Trent Sieg
- DT Johnathan Hankins
- CB Noah Igbinoghene
- EDGE Dante Fowler Jr.
- S Jayron Kearse
- EDGE Dorance Armstrong
- CB Jourdan Lewis
- CB Stephon Gilmore
- RB Tony Pollard
- OL Tyron Smith
Two of the Cowboys’ starting offensive linemen are hitting free agency, which could directly impact the offense as a whole next season. The running back position could also look different — both of the team’s running backs will hit free agency and could take higher-paying deals elsewhere this offseason.
As for the defense, the Cowboys’ secondary could be heavily impacted by losing a veteran presence next season.
Overall, the depth within many position groups will be impacted by the number of free agents that the front office inevitably can’t retain because of the nature of the NFL. Keeping impact players who were difference-makers this season will determine success in the Cowboys’ free agency.
MORE: Dallas Cowboys Depth Chart
Along those lines, searching for talent at a price worth spending could also be pivotal for the upcoming season.
Cooks and Gilmore were impact players this season, and both were acquired through trade deals. It will be interesting to see how the front office attacks free agency in a few weeks.
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