2023 Dallas Cowboys season: 12-5, NFC East champion, wild card loss
Synopsis: This past season, the Cowboys delivered the goods, dominating large chunks of the regular season and taking the NFC East title before collapsing in the NFC championship game. Do you recognise this?
Micah Parsons was a finalist for Defensive Player of the Year, CeeDee Lamb had his greatest pro season (1,749 yards
and 12 touchdowns receiving), and Dak Prescott had an MVP-caliber campaign. And all we’ll talk about this summer will be the horrifying home loss in the wild card round to the younger, less experienced Packers, which left owner Jerry Jones speechless and placed Mike McCarthy’s employment in limbo (though he has since declared his return).
Even with the Cowboys’ talent, the upcoming season will be crucial. At the Senior Bowl, Jones said that 2024 was “all-in,” putting more focus on the current season than on the future. It all began in the summer, when Dallas passed on trying to get Bill Belichick, Dan Quinn left to become the Commanders’ head coach, and Mike Zimmer took over as defensive coordinator. Currently, there are important queries for each member of the roster.
Who’s in and who’s out: Gilmore feels that the Cowboys should “run it back” in 2024, but do they feel the same way? Is Pollard simply the most recent running back for the Cowboys whose decline in yards per carry is a poor sign, or would he benefit from playing next to a legitimate second option in the backfield? Is Smith, who supposedly wishes to rejoin the team, still a key member of the offensive line, or would Dallas be better served by drafting his replacement in the deep tackle class and considering his age (33) and history of injuries? “I think the fact that he’s not going into the offseason with offseason surgeries is a plus,” said Mike McCarthy. “We’ll continue to talk as we move forward.” The Cowboys remain highly ambiguous as
What causes the holes? As Dallas’ feature back, Tony Pollard didn’t exactly make waves, and he is currently a free agency. Due to injuries, Tyron Smith has only started 30 of a potential 67 regular-season games during the previous four years. Even with Micah Parsons’ influence, the pass rush is mediocre at best (21.3% pressure rate, 16th in the NFL). Mazi Smith, a nose tackle selected in the first round of 2023, might advance the following season. The Cowboys are not going to merely hope for it.
There’s work ahead of the Cowboys. According to Spotrac, Dallas is expected to be $16.1 million above the cap.
Possible significant reductions LB Leighton Vander Esch WR Cooks, Brandin
Reasons for their possible disappearance: Leighton Vander Esch has been hampered by injuries, which has kept him from reaching his full potential as a rookie. He might be leaving after 2024, when a $4.4 million cap hit. While Cooks contributed significantly to the Cowboys’ offence (657 yards, 8 receiving touchdowns), he is expected to receive $10 million the next season.
draft selections
Round one: No. 24
Round two: No. 56
Round three: No. 87
Round five (compensatory)
sixth (compensatory) round
Round 7 (through Raiders)
the seventh iteration
Suitable draft fit
Tyler Guyton, Oklahoma, overtime
Why not him? Guyton possesses exceptional physical gifts, but he’s hardly a finished product. Nate Tice, an NFL Draft expert at Yahoo Sports, notes that Guyton’s “size and movement ability are hard to teach.” Similar to a young Tyron Smith, in many ways. Is Guyton a candidate to be drafted in his place?
What has the potential to impact fantasy football this offseason?
Although the Cowboys’ postseason run didn’t go as planned, their offence was anything but a spectacular success during the regular season. The players from the previous game should all be back in full force.
Although the Cowboys’ postseason run didn’t go as planned, their offence was anything but a spectacular success during the regular season. The passing game enthusiasts ought to be back in full swing, but fantasy football players ought to pay attention to what happens in the backfield. Overly optimistic expectations led to Tony Pollard’s 2023 disappointment, despite his 1,300 total yards and RB15 finish. The offensive environment alone suggests that this is an area in need of development. We should be prepared to invest in the best player available, whether it’s a seasoned free agent signing, a young talent selected on Day 2 or early Day 3 of the draft, or even Pollard’s return to near-full health for the duration of the season.
2023 Minnesota Vikings season: 7-10, no postseason
In Minnesota, the 2023 season did not turn out as planned. A season later, the Vikings tied with the Chicago Bears for last place in the division after winning 13 games and the NFC North in 2022. The main causes of Minnesota’s problems were quarterback play and a reversion from an overachievement in 2022.
In Week 8, Kirk Cousins sustained an Achilles tear. Three additional quarterbacks were used by the Vikings, but none of them could help the team get into the playoffs. With Cousins about to become a free agency, the Vikings will be facing a high-stakes offseason around football’s most crucial position.
