While we still have a ways to go before we can start watching the NFL regular season again, it is creeping up on us quite quickly. And, if you are a Cowboys fan, it turns out that there is quite a lot that you need to know!
The Dallas Cowboys have changed a lot recently, and the Dallas Cowboys’ odds and their roster both need to be kept a close eye on. Things are ever-changing, and the Cowboys have been very busy since the last season ended.
The Cowboys hope to end their 26-year Super Bowl drought this year, despite winning 12 games in both of the last two seasons, they have hit something of a crossroads. So, they decided to change things up, and now, expectations are high!
Let’s dive deep into Cowboy Country and take a look at what they have been up to.
What You Need To Know
As Jerry Jones, owner of the Cowboys, enters his 34th season, he is quite optimistic about the team’s chances of competing once again in 2023. He has said that he is probably even more excited than the Cowboys fans are.
There has been a very busy free agency period that they have experienced, which has brought in some high-quality veterans.
While Dallas did step back on the offensive side a bit last year, we would agree that their new roster certainly has what it takes to be Super Bowl-worthy, if everything goes to plan of course!
Alterations To The Roster
Signed Players
- Tony Pollard (RB)
- Cooper Rush (QB)
- Jonathan Hankins (DT)
- Takk McKinley (Edge)
- Terence Steele (OT)
- Leighton Vander Esch (LB)
- Dante Fowler Jr (Edge)
Via Trade
- Brandin Cooks (WR): The Cowboys traded a 5th-round pick & a 2024 6th-round pick for Cooks, who has produced 1,037 receiving yards in 6/9 of his seasons
- Stephon Gilmore (CB): The Cowboys traded a 2023 5th-round pick for Gilmore. The 32-year-old corner has just come off of a solid season.
Drafted Players
- Mazi Smith (DT)
- Luke Schoonmaker (TE)
- DeMarvion Overshown (LB)
- Viliami Fehoko (Edge)
- Eric Scott Jr (CB)
- Deuce Vaughn (RB)
- Jalen Brooks (WR)
Players Lost
- Ezekiel Elliott (RB)
- Dalton Schultz (TE)
- Anthony Brown (CB)
- Anthony Barr (LB)
- Noah Brown (WR)
Results & Standings From The 2022 Season
The 2022 season for the Cowboys was pretty strange, the offense felt the biggest loss however, when losing Amari Cooper, despite ranking 4th in points scored.
The QB Dak Prescott and Michael Gallup (WR) never performed as well as they were expected to, which led to the unit becoming dependent on the defense, and their ability to force a turnover.
The offense also basically just became focused on Tony POllard, and as soon as Ezekiel Elliott missed time, Pollard shot into stardom and carried the game.
Despite middling performances from Dalton Schultz, and Prescott, the Cowboys still finished 2022 with a great 12-5 record and the ability to make some extra noise in the postseason.
They dominated and finished 2nd in the NFC East, just behind the Eagles.
Sure, most people expected Brady to pull an upset in the Wild Card round, as usual, the Cowboys still played well, dominating and grabbing a 31-14 win!
But, the offense melted in divisionals, which produced 206 embarrassing passing yards, and a turnover on the ball on two occasions. Prescott’s play became uneven and the turnovers only validated concerns.
This resulted in a sad end to the season, wherein there was a defensive line that was more than good enough to win a Super Bowl, but an offensive line that was a bit lacking.
It was their second consecutive year leading the league in takeaways. But, luckily the NFL draft was coming and they could make the changes they needed.
Outlook & Power Ranking For The 2023 Season
The Cowboys are currently ranking 7th in the post-draft 2023 NFL Draft Power Rankings lists. There is no doubt at all that they deserve plenty of praise for bringing in NFL veterans such as Cooks and Gilmore for nearly nothing at all.
They now have a roster that is jam-packed on both sides of the ball in terms of talent and ability.
That being said, letting Kellen Moore leave and replacing him with Schottenheimer may not have been their best call ever, it will certainly lead to an identity change in the entire unit.
Let us not forget that Elliot’s loss is also a pretty sore spot too, as the team has opted against adding a more capable ball carrier than Vaughn in the draft, so if they have a chance to re-sign Elliott we think it would be for the best that they do so.
They need Schottenheimer to get more from Prescott who is usually as good as any non-elite QB. They also need Dan Quinn’s defense to force turnovers. He has been great at this in the past, but he needs to keep it up.
Overall
The Cowboys have the potential to perform well in the 2023 season; however, whether they do or not will be decided by how well the decisions they have made in their roster changes work out.
