In the four postseason games in the Mike McCarthy era, the Dallas Cowboys have allowed an average of 363 yards per game.
If we were to rank that amongst the rest of the NFL in yards allowed per game this season, the Cowboys would rank 28th in the league.
Year after year, the Cowboys’ defense feasts on poor offenses, racks up sacks and turnovers, and they are proclaimed to be a dominant defense.
Once the lights get bright, however, they usually disappear and get beaten up physically and fundamentally.
Heading into this off-season, with or without Defensive Coordinator Dan Quinn, the Cowboys must make defensive improvement the priority if they want to have a real chance at contending.
With that considered, here are the three defensive moves I believe the front office must consider this off-season.
Bring Back Key Pieces
Considering we are talking about moving the defense forward, it is crucial not to take a step back.
This means paying key contributors to the 2023 defense, especially in the secondary.
Stephon Gilmore, Jourdan Lewis, Dante Fowler Jr, and Johnathan Hankins are the top four, in my view, that Dallas must bring back.
Despite their veteran age, all four guys were reliable and came up in big spots.
Without Gilmore and Lewis, I think you see a major dropoff in the secondary. Barring a high draft pick or free agent signing, that would leave Dallas with Trevon Diggs off an ACL injury, DaRon Bland, Nahshon Wright, and Eric Scott Jr.
Stephon Gilmore is having a GAME 🔒
pic.twitter.com/SDhlyzqWW8— PFF (@PFF) December 11, 2023
That group will not get the job done.
Now, I know what you’re thinking. Just bring in new corners.
The issue there is, that means you are either using a pick in the top three rounds on a corner, signing a starter for $7M+ annually, or both.
Why do either of those when you can bring back reliable players that are already familiar with the team and system, and use those early picks on bigger needs, like tackle, running back, and linebacker?
Don’t let the Green Bay disaster fool you. Gilmore and Lewis were solid, and at times, high-quality players this season.
New Look Linebacking Corps
As sad of an end as it is, the career of former-first-round pick, Leighton Vander Esch, is likely over. ESPN’s Ed Werder reiterated this likelihood on Thursday.
When you combine that with a mediocre, at best, group, it becomes clear that linebacker is perhaps the biggest need for Dallas heading into 2024.
This season, the Cowboys played safeties at linebacker, were forced to give practice squad-level players snaps, and got bullied in the run-and-pass game for it.
The one safety-to-linebacker player that worked out was Markquese Bell, who will be a big piece for Dallas next year as well.
Yet, even Bell, and the other semi-bright spot, Damone Clark, struggled mightily against Green Bay.
Rough one last night for Dallas LBs… Lots of eye violations and voided gaps. While playing behind a DT unit knocked off the ball often.
33/14 aren't for me. pic.twitter.com/JhhwcHhMG1
— Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL) January 15, 2024
The point is, this off-season needs to be about buffing up the starting linebackers and the depth at the position.
I believe that starts with free agency.
The Cowboys’ must make signing Titans linebacker, and impending free agent, Azeez Al-Shaair, a top priority.
Truth be told, they should have acquired him at this year’s trade deadline, but they will have another chance this spring.
Al-Shaair immediately becomes the best linebacker on the roster for Dallas; he is coming off a 163 total tackle season, with four passes defended, nine tackles for loss, and six quarterback hits.
At just 26 years old, this guy can lead the front seven for the next 3-5 years.
Secondly, a great fit for Dallas in this year’s draft is Texas A&M linebacker, Edgerrin Cooper.
Likely to be either a first or second-round pick, Cooper brings the intangibles Dallas has been lacking.
Texas A&M LB Edgerrin Cooper announces that he’s declaring for the 2024 NFL draft. Finished this season with 80 tackles, 14.0 TFLs and 8.0 sacks.
No. 1 ranked LB on my big board. pic.twitter.com/9qiRiloZ2O
— Jordan Reid (@Jordan_Reid) December 12, 2023
Dallas will also get a boost from 2023 fourth-rounder, DeMarvion Overshown, making his return from a torn ACL.
Stop The Run
The Cowboys’ true bugaboo for years now has been the run defense.
Especially in the postseason, teams regularly put up 100+ rushing yards when facing Dallas.
Perhaps the biggest reason why this issue has stuck around for so many seasons is the fact that the front office has yet to truly invest in the run defense.
It seemed they wanted to change that tune with the selection of Mazi Smith in the first round last year, until they made him lose 30 lbs and barely played him this season.
Mazi Smith ended his rookie season as the lowest-graded #Cowboys player vs GB.
Given the weight loss, his rookie year almost feels like waste.
— John Owning (@JohnOwning) January 15, 2024
Dallas needs to focus on bulking Smith back up, bringing back Hankins for depth, and getting themselves a true run-stopper to pair with Osa Odighizuwa.
This could present itself in the draft, but I think the Cowboys need to focus on getting an established run stuffer in free agency.
I believe Colts Defensive Tackle, Grover Stewart is the man for that job.
Stewart is hitting free agency and is expected to get around $30M over three years: Dallas can afford that.
Bringing in Stewart would give the Cowboys’ front seven one of the best-run defenders in the league. Not only will his talent affect the defense, but his presence alone will allow for less focus on guys like Odighizuwa, DeMarcus Lawrence, and Micah Parsons.
A move like this would make teams like the Packers, Rams, 49ers, and Eagles, think twice before exploiting the Cowboys’ run defense like they normally do.
This Dallas defense is not far away from being great, but they have to invest in the glaring holes they have if they want to make that a reality.
