Five reasons the Cowboys need to begin a rebuild

Acquire more draft picks 

With it feeling like Dallas is nowhere close to a playoff team, it could certainly help to trade players who are on expiring contracts. 

Ezekiel Elliott, DeMarcus Lawrence, Brandin Cooks and Jourdan Lewis are all players on expiring contracts who could be traded for draft compensation. As it stands right now, the Cowboys are set to have six of their own draft picks as well as four compensatory picks, putting the total up to 10.

Trading at least three players on expiring contracts could get Dallas up closer to 15 draft picks, which would be an exceptional number of picks for a team that is beginning a rebuild.

Young core to build around

Besides older players to trade, Dallas also has young pieces to build around.

Dak Prescott is the quarterback of the future. He has several young weapons that will be in Dallas with him for the foreseeable future, including running back Rico Dowdle, receivers CeeDee Lamb and KaVontae Turpin and promising tight end Jake Ferguson.

With these pieces on the offensive side of the ball and the ability to go out and make trades for more draft picks, it makes a lot of sense for Dallas to make these trades and begin to rebuild for its future.

Not a championship contender

Dallas just simply isn't as good as the teams it is trying to chase down for a playoff spot. 

The Cowboys' three wins this season are against the Browns, Steelers and Giants. The combined record of those three teams is 9-13, with the Steelers carrying over 50% of those nine wins. 

Dallas has struggled against the playoff-caliber teams it has faced like the 49ers, Ravens and Lions. If the ultimate goal is to win the Super Bowl, and the team isn't close to doing that, it is time to trade players and begin a rebuild.

A new head coach is likely coming

It is no secret around the NFL that this season may very well be the last one for Dallas head coach Mike McCarthy. 

The Cowboys have failed to succeed in the playoffs during McCarthy's tenure, and as was exemplified by former head coach Jason Garrett's time with the team, a lack of playoff success doesn't fly in Dallas. As a head coach, McCarthy has a career record of 11-11 in the playoffs, including a 1-3 mark with Dallas, which is simply just not good enough.

All of this could change if Dallas were to come out and win its next four games and be in control of the division, but that's not a likely scenario with the upcoming schedule. The Cowboys should seriously consider beginning to rebuild and looking toward 2025 and beyond.