Archer: For Cowboys, draft can't answer every need

Cotton

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For Cowboys, draft can't answer every need
9:42 AM ET
Todd Archer
ESPN Staff Writer

IRVING, Texas -- As the Dallas Cowboys get ready to head to Indianapolis this week for the scouting combine, perhaps there is no better time to talk about free agency.

Confused? Don’t be.

Once the compensatory picks are announced, the Cowboys are expected to have nine draft picks. They currently own their first-, second-, third-, fourth- and sixth-round picks. They should get another fourth-rounder and three seventh-rounders for their losses in free agency last year.

For all of the needs and wants the Cowboys have -- at cornerback, defensive end, defensive tackle, linebacker, running back, quarterback, wide receiver, safety and tight end -- it will be impossible to fill them all in the draft.

There is simply no guarantee they can get who they want, let alone what they want, to take care of all of their issues as they come off a 4-12 season.

The Cowboys will have to use free agency, at least to a degree, to fill those needs.

In the past coach Jason Garrett has said the goal is to get into the draft without being forced to take a player at a particular position. If a team has holes, then it is more difficult to put together a true draft board because naturally those needs get pushed up.

So, where would the Cowboys look in free agency?

Running back would make the most sense, but likely not at the top end of the market. The Cowboys have Darren McFadden and Rod Smith under contract from last year. Lance Dunbar is coming back from a torn ACL and is a free agent. He could be back, but that shouldn’t be the only pre-draft move.

Last year the Cowboys showed they are willing to go only so far for a free-agent running back in letting DeMarco Murray walk. They loved him yet let him go. It’s difficult to see them paying a big guarantee on a long-term deal to a runner in this market, so guys like Doug Martin (if he even gets to the market), Lamar Miller and Chris Ivory might be too pricey. Could Matt Forte on a short-term deal be a better buy? Does Scott Linehan’s time with Joique Bell in Detroit give them something to think about?

The draft will have a number of qualified candidates, but last year the Cowboys never saw a player match up with the grade so they did not select a running back.

Friday’s announcement that Randy Gregory will be suspended for the first four games of the season for violating the substance abuse policy does not really add to the Cowboys’ needs at defensive end. They were already acute. But does Gregory’s suspension open up the possibility of Jeremy Mincey returning? It won’t do so for Greg Hardy. Does it step up the Cowboys’ willingness to sign Jack Crawford?

The Rams cut Chris Long and he is available to sign now.

The draft might not have many top-end pass rushers, but there is depth at defensive end and defensive tackle.

Linebacker is another need. UCLA’s Myles Jack has been a favorite in some mock drafts and could be available at No. 4 overall. Is taking a middle linebacker that high the right choice? Would it be wise for the Cowboys to stick with Rolando McClain for another year? His market should be limited because of a four-game suspension last season.

The Cowboys need to address cornerback, most likely in free agency and the draft. Morris Claiborne is a free agent. Brandon Carr has a $13.8 million cap number. Orlando Scandrick is coming back from major knee surgery.

Claiborne’s injury history -- and just three career interceptions -- could keep his price low, but he has missed an average of six games per season in his career. The Cowboys could look to keep Carr at a lower rate.

The Cowboys won’t set the market on cornerbacks, like they did with Carr in 2012, but they can find a valuable piece to help stabilize the position leading into the draft. Then at No. 4 the Cowboys could look at Jalen Ramsey or find help in the subsequent rounds.

Playing time could hinder the Cowboys' chances of finding a wide receiver or tight end in free agency. Veterans want to go where they can get paid and play. Jason Witten is not coming off the field. Dez Bryant, Terrance Williams and Cole Beasley are entrenched as the top three receivers. For tight end and receiver, the draft might be the better bet, although re-signing James Hanna would be a smart move.

Then there’s quarterback. In 2012 the Cowboys signed Kyle Orton to back up Tony Romo. They gave him $5 million to sign. He had the perfect blend of age and experience. Among the backups available this year, there isn’t a quarterback as good as Orton.

Do the Cowboys roll the dice on a rookie as the No. 2 quarterback? Do they go with Kellen Moore? Adding Colt McCoy could help in the short term but not much for the future.

As much as the combine is about the draft, it is really the start of free agency, too. Teams and agents meet in secret and talk parameters even if the legal tampering period doesn’t start until March.

The Cowboys can start to find some answers for their roster now.
 

Cowboysrock55

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The Cowboys need to address cornerback, most likely in free agency and the draft.
You have to love the cornerback whoring. Not that we don't need to address it at all. But they make it sound like we need multiple corners. We could sign one guy and I'd say we are in really good shape. But no, we need to sign someone and draft someone.
 

boozeman

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You have to love the cornerback whoring. Not that we don't need to address it at all. But they make it sound like we need multiple corners. We could sign one guy and I'd say we are in really good shape. But no, we need to sign someone and draft someone.
We need a couple of bodies certainly.

I would grab a guy like Heyward and take amother corner at some point.

To me, if winning now is the big deal, it is pretty rare for many corners to come in and just start kicking ass right away.
 
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