Let's look at the roster by position...and this is just my initial thought on everything. I'm not sure what Cowboys' front office folks are thinking in regards to trades and/or free agent moves - obviously.

QB - Good shape. We don't need to draft one. We don't need to sign one. Tony Romo had his best year statistically and has 4-5 prime years left. Jon Kitna is smart and capable if needed even though he didn't take one snap last year. Stephen McGee is fine as a third stringer and scout team QB.

RB - Good shape. Felix Jones, Marion Barber and Tashard Choice just might be the best running back stable in the NFL. They all get used and have different strengths and weaknesses. If we can continue utilizing this group to its potential, it could do even more damage against opposing defenses than it did in 2009. And all three of those guys are under contract for next year. Don't draft one. Don't sign one.

WR - Pretty good shape with Miles Austin, Patrick Crayton, Roy Williams, Sam Hurd and Kevin Ogletree. All five made significant contributions at times last year and all five have no more than six years of NFL experience. All are under contract for 2010 except Austin and Hurd who are restricted free agents. I don't think Dallas will let either go, especially Austin after he lead the team and was close to the league lead in receptions and touchdowns. All that being said, I wouldn't be shocked if the Cowboys drafted a WR on day three of the draft - rounds 4 through 7.

OL - Definitely need some help. This is a perplexing unit. Leonard Davis, Andre Gurode, Flozell Adams, Marc Colombo, Kyle Kosier and Doug Free are the main contributors. They can dominate up front. But only the Raiders have more false start penalties over the last few years than these guys. Adams has 12 years experience, Colombo has eight, Davis has nine so they're getting on up there in age. I think Dallas should go for a big time OL talent on day one or two of the draft - first, second or third round. All of the aforementioned linemen are signed up for 2010 by the way.

TE - In pretty good shape. Jason Witten is a future Hall of Famer and will enter his eighth season with Dallas. Martellus Bennett didn't live up to the hype he created for himself in a great pre-season last year, but he has the tools and could be a TD machine. John Phillips went from a purely blocking TE to a pretty good receiver during the later part of the season. It's a young group. Don't need any huge help in the draft.

S - Gerald Sensabaugh and Patrick Watkins are restricted free agents. Alan Ball is an exclusive rights free agent. Then there's Ken Hamlin and Michael Hamlin. No one really stands out to me here as an "untouchable". I wouldn't be surprised if any of these guys were traded or released (which isn't a likely option). I also wouldn't be surprised or disappointed if all five of these guys came back for 2010. This is a position that will likely be targeted in the early rounds of the draft depending on what happens with Sensabaugh, Watkins and Ball in free agency.

CB - This is a group that really emerged as a stand out unit late in the season. Mike Jenkins, Orlando Scandrick and Terrence Newman. All the guys are young and have much invested in them by way of finances and time. I'd be surprised if a CB was taken by the Cowboys before the fifth or sixth round.

LB - DeMarcus Ware, Anthony Spencer, Keith Brooking and Bradie James are your starters. In my opinion one of the best LB units in the league. Notable backups are Victor Butler, Bobby Carpenter, Steve Octavien and Jason Williams. Everybody's under contract for next year except for Octavien who's an exclusive rights free agent. I like the group as it is but don't think it would hurt for the Cowboys to target LB in the draft for the sole fact that there are eight positions (including backups) to fill. 

DL - Jay Ratliff and Igor Olshansky are set to go for 2010. Marcus Spears is a restricted free agent along with Junior Siavii, Stephen Bowen and Jason Hatcher. It really depends on what happens after free agency opens to know how the draft will effect this position. I think it will be a target no matter what, though. Look for some D-lineman to have their names called by the Cowboys early in the draft.

OK, I think that about does it.

So my most important positions for the draft are OL, DL and LB. Then look for us to maybe go with some WR or S in the later rounds.

Football withdrawal is setting in. The Winter Olympics just aren't doing anything for me this year. Oh well...just six more months.

Post a comment

(If you haven't left a comment here before, you may need to be approved by the site owner before your comment will appear. Until then, it won't appear on the entry. Thanks for waiting.)

Name:

Email Address:

URL:

Remember personal info?

Comment: (you may use HTML tags for style)