NFL
By: Greg Rector
Will the Dallas Cowboys enter the 2023 NFL season as they currently look? Or will Jerry Jones decide on adding even more strength to this roster?
Will Dalvin Cook or DeAndre Hopkins become Dallas Cowboys? What if they decide to re-sign Ezekiel Elliott? There are decisions to be made by the Dallas Cowboys owner his son Stephen and the coaching staff. The Dallas Cowboys still have 20.5 million under the salary cap. Do they use it or will Stephen “Cap Boy” Jones keep it under his mattress as he usually has?
The Offense
This Dallas Cowboys offense still has to answer the bell according to all the experts out there. The Dallas Cowboys ranked 4th in total points scored last season. That led to the second straight 12-5 record season. The problems lie with the playoff record, especially against the San Francisco 49ers. Does adding Brandin Cooks solve all the woes of a receiving corps? I believe Cooks certainly will make life a whole easier for CeeDee Lamb to continue to be one of the better wide receivers in the game.
The DeAndre Hopkins rumors about the Dallas Cowboys have died down somewhat since the Arizona Cardinals released him. Still, questions are out there concerning Hopkins and becoming a Dallas Cowboys wide receiver. His visits to the New England Patriots and Tennessee Titans didn’t see a contract signed so that’s where the rumor mill once again has some suggesting DeAndre Hopkins could become a Dallas Cowboys receiver. I personally don’t believe they will add DeAndre Hopkins to the fold of the Dallas Cowboys unless they feel Michael Gallup isn’t going to rebound after coming off his sub-par return after his ACL injury.
Dalvin Cook
The woes of another running back who was let go by his team who has had several very good seasons of football came to visit Dalvin Cook. Dalvin Cook has had an excellent career but yes indeed he has reached the age (27) where his services became considered obsolete for the Minnesota Vikings. I personally have never thought of Tony Pollard as being to withstand a full NFL season as a team’s running back. This is where a Dalvin Cook could come in very handy.
Yes, the Dallas Cowboys added Ronald Jones as a free agent and drafted Deuce Vaughn from Kansas State in the draft. My question remains on Tony Pollard who by no measure has been a shrinking violet especially when you consider his ability to make more explosive plays than Ezekiel Elliott was able to do the last two seasons.
My other concern is with the lack of play that Malik Davis received in the playoff loss to the 49ers. Why wasn’t he given the chance to go in the game after Pollard’s injury? He had already displayed a few solid efforts prior to that game. He showed an ability to play yet was not inserted into the offense to attempt to gain yardage against the 49ers.
If you do sign Dalvin Cook the Dallas Cowboys have a solid option to use in the running game and he’s also been solid as a receiver out of the backfield. I believe the Minnesota Vikings gave up on Dalvin Cook too soon. If you ask me adding Dalvin Cook makes very good sense for the Dallas Cowboys. His past shoulder issues have been fixed and the running back is coming off of four straight seasons with more than 1100 yards rushing.
If I am Jerry Jones I sign Dalvin Cook tomorrow.
