The football world has reached more than a consensus on this matter. An overwhelming collection of fans, media types, self-styled draft experts are moving in lockstep. On April 23 with the No. 12 and the No. 20 selections of the NFL draft, the Cowboys must acquire defensive help.
When a team gives up 500 points in a season, what else are you going to do?
It’s not the logic of this particular opinion that bothers me, it’s the unanimity. When a decision or a plan of attack is this obvious that there’s no room for discussion, then it feels like we are missing something. Things are never quite as simple as they seem. So if the Cowboys find a way to draft an offensive player with one of these two first-round picks, I will be the one who doesn’t gasp and shout, “How could they?”
It’s not likely to happen. They will probably find their way to take an edge rusher and a defensive back, squeeze in a linebacker in the third round. At least that’s one potential course. But there are some things to consider here regarding the alternative route.
In 2019, the Cowboys’ offense was better than last year’s. Dak Prescott had his career-high 4,902 passing yards. Ezekiel Elliott rushed for 1,357 yards. It was the last time he would compete for a rushing title and his last Pro Bowl, but there were no real signs of that. Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup both had more than 1,100 yards receiving. The Cowboys ranked No. 1 in offense, but still managed to get Jason Garrett fired with an 8-8 record.
The obvious draft needs were on defense. The Cowboys took CeeDee Lamb.
No one questioned that decision then or now, even though positive results were not immediate. The team fell to 6-10 in a strange COVID year, largely because Dak was injured for the first time as a pro and missed two-thirds of the season.
There are plenty of good wide receivers in this draft worthy of high picks. The Cowboys don’t need one, you say. That’s correct as long as the club doesn’t mess up negotiations with George Pickens and turn him into the unhappy camper he was in Pittsburgh, which is what got him to Dallas in the first place. It’s true as long as Lamb is healthy and not absent the five games he has missed the last two seasons.