Cowboys' Draft Needs, Ranked By Position

Never been a big fan of “best player available.” In the draft. Or in life.

Stockpiling for the future never makes sense to me when you are enduring a mediocre present. If you’re thirsty and in your kitchen is only an empty jug and a loaf of bread, would you go to the store and buy a fresh loaf of bread?

Of course not. Tempting as it might be, you have bread. You need water. Shop wisely. Or else.

After a 4-12 season, the Cowboys need lots of help in a lot of areas in tomorrow’s NFL Draft. Let’s rank each position in terms of urgency:

1. DEFENSIVE LINE – Last year they produced zero rush and have lost Greg Hardy and – for four games each – Randy Gregory and DeMarcus Lawrence. The No. 4 pick screams for Joey Bosa.

2. CORNERBACK – This team will again be fatally flawed if Brandon Carr is a starter. Gotta be an upgrade out there somewhere, and its name isn’t Morris Claiborne.

3. LINEBACKER – Assuming Sean Lee and Rolando McClain can stay on the field, there’s still room for a playmaker that can step in front of Anthony Hitches and Kyle Wilber.

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4. SAFETY – Byron Jones looks headed for stardom. But Barry Church is merely solid and J.J. Wilox regressed significantly in 2015.

5. RECEIVER – Without Dez Bryant opposite him, Terrance Williams looked lost. Unless you think Brice Butler is the answer, you need help here.

6. QUARTERBACK – Tony Romo is your starter for at least 2-3 more years. This team has too many imminent needs to use a high pick on a seed that might not be harvested until 2020.

7. TIGHT END – Jason Witten’s on the decline, but James Hannah and Gavin Escobar need a chance to permanently fail before a draft pick is used on this position.

8. OFFENSIVE LINE – With three players in the Pro Bowl flanked by solid veteran Doug Free and rising star La’el Collins, you might draft here for depth but nothing else.

9. RUNNING BACK – For all the hoopla surrounding DeMarco Murray’s record season in 2014, Darren McFadden rushed for only 400 fewer yards in 2015 without beginning the season as the starter. Alfred Morris is the proven backup and Lance Dunbar the change-up at a position that has been addressed and upgraded.

10. PUNTER/KICKER – Don’t fix it if it ain’t broke. And neither Dan Bailey nor Chris Jones are anywhere near broken.

A native Texan who was born in Duncanville and graduated from UT-Arlington, Richie Whitt has been a mainstay in the Metroplex media since 1986. He’s held prominent roles on all media platforms including newspaper (Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Dallas Observer), radio (105.3 The Fan) and TV (co-host on TXA 21 and numerous guest appearances, including NBC 5). He lives in McKinney with his wife, Sybil, and two very spoiled dogs.

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