The 2024 season is nearly upon us with training camp and the preseason winding down. The Dallas Cowboys had a decent season last year, but as has been the norm lately, they failed to produce anything of significance in the playoffs.
Even though the team is “all in” this year, as per the words of Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, there has been relatively less activity by Dallas in the offseason.
The Cowboys used the draft to plug some of the holes in their roster, but it wouldn’t be a bad idea to dive into the free agency market to add some more talent to the squad.
Xavien Howard, CB
One of the areas the Cowboys could look at is the cornerback position. The return of Trevon Diggs is a certain boost to the team and last year, DaRon Bland had a terrific year two. The pair are definitely worthy of making big defensive plays but adding another player in the mix could work well.
The Cowboys had Stephon Gilmore last season and he did a good job but he was let go as a free agent. However, one player who could fit well in the team is former Miami Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard.
Howard has generally been a good cornerback up until 2023 when he was hampered by a foot injury. However, the 31-year-old still has something to offer, and adding him as a depth player may help improve the Dallas secondary.
D.J. Humphries, OT
The starting left tackle position for the Cowboys is their newly drafted first-round pick from the University of Oklahoma, Tyler Guyton. That puts a lot of pressure on the rookie tackle. Dallas can take a look at the free agent market and think of signing someone like D.J. Humphries while they allow Guyton to settle in the league first.
Humphries, a former first-round selection himself, has plenty of experience having played nine seasons in the league. Moreover, he can play as both the right and left tackle adding more depth to the room.
Protecting the blind side of Dak Prescott will be crucial for the success of the Cowboys’ upcoming season, especially if they want to make it deeper into the playoffs this year.
Jerick McKinnon, RB
One of Dallas’ main areas of concern is their depth in the running back room. They brought back Ezekiel Elliott after he spent the 2023 season with the Patriots but he has clearly been on the decline. Behind Elliott are Rico Dowdle and Deuce Vaughn who are both relatively inexperienced.
Dallas’ backfield looks very vulnerable and an added presence in the form of an experienced player should be considered. Former Kansas City Chiefs running back Jerick McKinnon could be a viable option to add to the Cowboys’ depth chart for the upcoming season.
McKinnon will not only bring a winning mentality but can also be used quite effectively in the passing game.
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