Dallas Cowboys' ceiling and floor for 2024

No team scored more points per game (29.9) than Dallas last season and only four teams allowed more points per contest (18.5) than the Cowboys. Thanks to nine interceptions and a record five touchdowns from cornerback DaRon Bland, the team allowed 299.7 yards per game to opponents, the fifth-fewest in the league last year.

Of course, Dallas did it largely without the services of cornerback Trevon Diggs who tore his ACL in practice after appearing in just two games last season. Fortunately, the former All-Pro is expected to be ready for the regular season.

 Floor: 6-11

The same can’t be said for Bland, who recently suffered a stress fracture in his foot that will require surgery. He’ll need six-to-eight weeks to recover while the Cowboys face teams like Baltimore, Cleveland, Detroit and San Francisco in his absence.

Tony Pollard, the team’s leading rusher in 2023, won’t be there either after signing a three-year, $21.75M contract with Tennessee in the offseason. He’ll be replaced by former Cowboy and ex-Patriot Ezekiel Elliott, the third-leading rusher in franchise history.

Unfortunately, Elliott’s better days are well behind him. After being released by the Cowboys, the 29-year-old running back set career-low marks in carries (184), yards (642), yards per carry (3.5) and touchdowns (3) with the Patriots last season.

Backup running back Rico Dowdle will surely see more than the 89 carries he had in 2023, but with just 385 yards and two scores over the past three seasons, the team may have to get creative to run the ball in 2024.

That responsibility falls to head coach Mike McCarthy, who assumed play-calling duties last season but remains unsigned beyond 2024. He’ll be fine as long as the team wins games, but if the Cowboys get off to a slow start, his lame-duck status could become a distraction. 

The Cowboys will open their regular season on the road against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, Sept. 8.