NFC scouting director confused by Cowboys’ offseason strategy, notes their confidence in using the draft

There are a whole lot of people confused by what the Cowboys are doing this offseason.

The Dallas Cowboys lack of action this offseason has been a point of conversation for fans for quite some time now. While many have become familiar with the plan of conservative free agency spending, there inactivity has been particularly quiet, even for their standards.

While confusion has been a common theme for those within Cowboys Nation, it isn’t just the fans of the team that are unsure of what the Cowboys are doing right now. It goes as far as those who are in NFL front office’s as well.

NFC scouting director confused by Cowboys’ offseason plan

With the NFL draft under two weeks away, ESPN released an article discussing the latest news and questions for each team leading up to the big event.

When it came to the Cowboys, some of the rhetoric was familiar in nature if you’ve been paying attention this offseason, but one line stood out.

What we’re hearing about the Cowboys’ draft: ”I don’t really understand the plan there so far this offseason, but there’s a lot weighing on this draft, and they seem to be confident about finding a bunch of starters,” said an NFC scouting director about Dallas’ lack of involvement in free agency and potential approach to the draft. Graham Barton (Duke) and Jackson Powers-Johnson would be plug-and-play options along the interior, and drafting either would allow Tyler Smith to move to left tackle. But don’t sleep on Dallas doubling up and selecting two offensive linemen early in the draft. Cooper Beebe (Kansas State) and Dominick Puni (Kansas) are Day 2 options who have the potential to be early starters.

That one comment from an NFC scouting director – “I don’t really understand the plan there so far this offseason…,” – may highlight just what Cowboys Nation is feeling this offseason.

It’s only one single sentence, but it captures the feelings of so many. From there, he continues and adds on to just how important this draft is for the Cowboys, and the heightened urgency to get their picks right and contributing early in 2024 – “…but there’s a lot weighing on this draft, and they seem to be confident about finding a bunch of starters.”

The task is tall, and something they were not able to do in 2023, as the most recent class was a relative non-factor for much of the season. If the Cowboys want to improve in 2024, they will need far more than what the previous class provided them.

Will McClay and Co. Provide Hope

It’s not all bad for the Cowboys despite the pessimism. They still have a talented roster, with high-level players at key positions. That is thanks to Will McClay and this team’s ability to draft. While the task seems daunting as you examine the holes that need to be filled on this roster, it is not impossible, nor something they haven’t been able to do in the past.

This front office is known for its ability to draft well, and despite the bad taste left in fans mouths after last year’s class, this team has proven to be more than capable of finding talent all over the draft that can contribute early and often. The reality is that they will need to do so out of necessity this year, but if they are able to do what they’re accustomed to doing as of late, they should be able to come out of the final weekend of April having bettered their roster.

Just how much better it will be will be key to the success of 2024, and may even be the key to the future of some important members of this franchise and what this team can potentially look like in 2025 and beyond.