As this team gets ready for training camp in the coming weeks, it’ll be interesting to see if you agree as to what position groups should have us on our toes and with which we should feel comfortable enough as things start to heat up.
Some folks like to start with the negative and get it out of the way — I want to do them last. Let’s dive first into who we shouldn’t have any concerns about until they give us a reason.
1. Offensive Guards
I went back and forth with the offensive guards and cornerbacks. Some might disagree with me, and that is fine, but I truly think future Hall of Famer Zack Martin and All-Pro Tyler Smith outweigh the cornerback room on June 3rd.
The rumors that this could be Martins’s final year might be a little overblown.
If it indeed becomes a reality, for some reason, hopefully, he goes out doing what he does best, being the best offensive guard in football.
Zack Martin career pic.twitter.com/vMucwNmiz8
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) May 27, 2024
Tyler Smith has been a home run since the Dallas Cowboys drafted him.
Smith’s 74.5 Pro Football Focus offensive grade was good for the ninth highest among guards in the NFL who played a minimum of 600 snaps.
He was at his best in the run game, earning a 79.7 PFF run-blocking grade, the sixth-best by an NFL guard who registered at least 600 offensive snaps.
The rest of the offensive line is a work in progress and who knows what we will get, but what Zack Martin and Tyler Smith bring to the table right now is why I have them first.
2. Cornerbacks
The only reason this group is second is because their best corner is recovering from an ACL injury. Trevon Diggs returning from that injury and not bringing back Stephon Gilmore is why I have the cornerback unit second.
I understand DaRon Bland had a historic season in 2023, but without Stephon Gilmore with them anymore, I would take Zack Martin and Tyler Smith over Diggs and Bland as you read this on July 3rd.
I feel like people have somehow underrated how good Trevon Diggs is because of the injury & what it means to have him back on the field in 2024.
Him + DaRon Bland have a chance to be truly special this season. #Cowboys @TrevonDiggs pic.twitter.com/grleoNqPLQ
— Tony Catalina (@Tony_Catalina) June 27, 2024
One thing we can agree on, though, is that these are the two best position groups on this football team and it is probably not even close.
3. Quarterbacks
The quarterback room is third. I am not sure you could make the argument that they should be any better or worse than here.
We know what we will get from Dak Prescott, at least from September through December. He made his first All-Pro team and was second in MVP voting last season.
Cooper Rush and Trey Lance are likely the best two and three you could have in football. Rush has stepped in and won some games when Prescott missed time.
"What is my best opportunity to win? I can win with Dak Prescott."@ChrisCarlin says Dallas should make Dak the highest-paid QB in the NFL 👀 pic.twitter.com/uZRnTlroCX
— First Take (@FirstTake) July 2, 2024
They are ranked right where they should heading into 2024.
4. Linebackers
The linebacker group has talent, but they can’t seem to figure it out. Signing Eric Kendricks this offseason at least gives them a veteran who can run the defense.
DeMarvion Overshown will return from his ACL injury, and Damone Clark will have a chance to show his worth this year.
Yet, having talented individuals is not enough for this group, which has struggled with consistency.
🔥 Big play alert (tap to see full tweet):
Eric Kendricks’ coverage ability is already on full display — today in 7-on-7 drills at #Cowboys minicamp from within the red zone.
Dak Prescott dropped back and threw a dart to the middle flat but Kendricks fully extended to cause a…
— Patrik [No C] Walker (@VoiceOfTheStar) June 5, 2024
Mike Zimmer now calls the defense, so maybe that will help, but until they build that chemistry and can show up week to week, it will be difficult to trust them.
5. Defensive Tackles
You could make the case that these guys are worse than the running back group, but I just can’t go that far.
Osa Odighizuwa has been awesome for the Cowboys, but what about the rest?
They have gotten next to nothing from the rest of the interior defensive linemen. Mazi Smith and Chauncey Golston need to have career years in 2024 for this group to move up.
Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy said Mazi Smith is working with the rehab group. He declined to talk about Smith's weight.
— Clarence Hill Jr (@clarencehilljr) May 22, 2024
This position group is just not very good, and although I am still holding out hope for them, I will say they aren’t last!
6. Running Backs
Let’s be honest here, the Cowboys running back room is not only the worst on the team out of the position groups, it might be the worst in the entire NFL.
This team re-signed Ezekiel Elliott after losing Tony Pollard to the Tennessee Titans. We have to be real about it though. While it might be good for team chemistry and all, he is not the running back he was a few years ago.
Rico Dowdle has shown flashes but only has 385 career rushing yards. He should be a nice rotational piece for Dallas’ rushing attack.
Deuce Vaughn was a good story, but will he even see the field this season? Maybe, but I doubt it.
Ranking The NFC East Running Backs:
1. Saquon Barkley, Eagles
2. Brian Robinson, Commanders
3. Devin Singletary, Giants
4. Austin Ekeler, Commanders
5. Rico Dowdle, Cowboys
6. Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys
7. Kenneth Gainwell, Eagles
8. Eric Gray, Giants— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) May 14, 2024
That is my ranking of all the position groups on this team. While you could probably flip the top two, there’s hardly a sound argument against who I have listed at the bottom.
This team will need a lot of things to go just right for them to win another 12 games. I
think they have enough talent on the surface to win at least 10, but we will see once September rolls around.
