Cowboys NFL's 'Most Complete Roster'? 3 Reasons Why
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The Dallas Cowboys are in the conversation when its regarding Super Bowl contention this season. After an offseason that saw the front office do some great business in keeping a host of starters, Dallas also added veterans Stephon Gilmore and Brandin Cooks. Add the drafting of Mazi Smith out of Michigan in the first round of the draft as it helps with the Cowboys' ability to stop the run, and it seems there are few holes on this Dallas roster.
But is it a "complete" roster? CBS Sports' Jared Dubin has compiled a list of 10 of the most complete teams in the NFL, with the Cowboys being ranked third. Only the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles (who are missing up to eight starters from last season) are ranked ahead.
CBS's thinking comes down to a trio of takes ...
1 - "The quality of talent on hand has never been the problem for the Cowboys except in the years where their quarterback (whether it be Tony Romo or Dak Prescott) has gotten hurt, and this once again looks like a loaded roster this year.''
We'll add "quality of talented depth'' as a key part of this point.
2 - Speed. "With Prescott throwing to CeeDee Lamb and with Tony Pollard finally, at long last fully anointed as the lead back,'' CBS starts out ...
But really, "speed'' - in addition to Pollard getting most of Ezekiel Elliott's old carries - is about Brandin Cooks and Luke Schoonmaker and a healthy Michael Gallup. This is a substantially faster offense than it was a year ago.
3 - "And the defense... good lord. "Mazi Smith wasn't a sexy draft pick, but he filled the biggest hole Dallas had on its defense -- a huge run-stuffer to play alongside the absolute banshees they have rushing the passer alongside Micah Parsons. Add Stephon Gilmore to a defensive back room that already included Trevon Diggs, fifth-round find DaRon Bland ... There is just so much for (coordinator) Dan Quinn to play around with."
And for us? This is simply about playmakers. Dallas is already the NFL takeaway king ... and here comes Gilmore? It adds up to even more.
Dallas does have talent everywhere you look, but this is a familiar theme for Cowboy Nation, as they - you - have witnessed back-to-back 12-win seasons while still waiting for the big payoff. Unfortunately, of course, both seasons ended with sour playoff losses to the San Francisco 49ers.
Is Dallas the third most complete team in the NFL as it stands? That is up for debate, but the three noted points are legit ... and part of why most observers believe the Cowboys are among the clubs that "won the offseason'' as we approach minicamp this week.
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