There may not be a team in the NFL under as much pressure to perform in 2024 than the Dallas Cowboys. They are in the midst of their best regular season performance since their dynasty in the mid-90s, winning 12 games in three consecutive seasons. Unfortunately for Dallas, playoff success has not followed.
The Cowboys set some ugly NFL history this season, becoming the first team to win 12+ games in three straight seasons without a Championship Game appearance. Dallas hasn’t advanced to a Championship Game since the 1995 season, the last time they won a Super Bowl.
On top of that, Dallas became the first No. 2 seed to lose to a No. 7 seed since the playoffs expanded. Jerry Jones didn’t fire head coach Mike McCarthy this offseason, but you can be assured he and several other people are going to be on the hot seat in 2024.
When taking a look at the Cowboys’ roster, pinpointing clear positions of need is difficult. People will debate whether or not Dak Prescott is the answer at quarterback to get this team over the hump, but is there a clear-cut alternative who is better?
Upgrading some of the weapons around Prescott could help, as the team needs to find more consistent options behind CeeDee Lamb at wide receiver. Arguably the biggest need for the team, according to PFF’s Mock Draft Simulator, is along the offensive line.
The Cowboys could lose long-time left tackle Tyron Smith in free agency this offseason. Smith has struggled staying healthy in recent seasons, which could lead to Dallas opting to make a change at the position.
If that is what they choose to do, the 2024 NFL Draft could present them with an option to replace him with. PFF believes that the ideal pick for the Cowboys would be Alabama tackle, JC Latham.
“Latham is a super-sized offensive tackle at 6-foot-6, 360 pounds, but he moves much better than one would expect for a player his size. Consistency with his hand placement is still a work in progress, but he is a physically gifted big man to mold,” per PFF’s Big Board Analysis.
The Cowboys used their first-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft on Tyler Smith out of Tulsa. He played all of his snaps in 2023 at left guard, but all his snaps in 2022 as a rookie at left tackle.
Dallas could opt to leave him at left guard should they be able to land a player of Latham’s caliber in the first round this year. Selecting the Alabama star would provide the Cowboys with another building block in the trenches, an area that has been a strength for the team in recent years.
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