5 Moves the Dallas Cowboys Should Have Made This Offseason

It is really difficult to criticize what the Dallas Cowboys did this offseason. They did a great job of strengthening their weaknesses and making the team better suited for a Super Bowl run. 

Last year, the biggest weakness on the entire team was its pass rush. Therefore, the Cowboys went out and signed the best pass-rusher on the open market, Greg Hardy, and arguably the best pass-rusher in the NFL draft, Randy Gregory. 

Furthermore, they drafted Byron Jones, a freak athlete who can play cornerback or safety, and they made a number of great value acquisitions with Andrew Gachkar, Corey White and Jasper Brinkley. 

The move that most fans gripe about, the departure of DeMarco Murray, was a sound financial decision and gave the team more flexibility to improve as whole. 

Nevertheless, even the best offseason could be tweaked and made better, and that is what this article will attempt to do. Therefore, let's take a look at five moves the Cowboys should have made this offseason.

Trade Up for Duke Johnson

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The biggest move the Cowboys should have made this offseason was to trade up in the third round to get Duke Johnson. It would have likely cost their third- and fourth-round picks, but it would have been worth it to fill a huge hole on the offense with a player as talented as Johnson. 

If you were looking for a running back that was a perfect scheme fit for the Cowboys offense, Johnson was the top guy outside of Todd Gurley. He has the patience to let blocks develop and the burst to hit the hole hard. 

Furthermore, Johnson is incredibly elusive, as he often left defenders grasping for air as he galloped through the defense. On top of that, Johnson was one of the best pass-catchers in the draft; he has developed silky smooth hands with impressive route-running ability. 

Johnson would have been the most talented running back on the Cowboys roster by far. If they had acquired Johnson, fans would quickly forget about Murray's departure, as they would be in awe of the playmaking ability of the former Miami running back. 

Dallas desperately needed a No. 1 running back, and it let an opportunity slip through its hands when it didn't trade up for Johnson.

Draft Thomas Rawls

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Whether the Cowboys had traded up for Johnson or not, they let another opportunity slip through their hands during the NFL draft. Thomas Rawls was an exceptionally talented running back who fell out of the draft due to some character concerns and the fact that he played at a small school, Central Michigan. 

When the Cowboys traded back into the seventh round, it should have been to select Rawls instead of Texas tight end Geoff Swaim. Rawls plays at a position of need, and he is a much better running back than Swaim is a tight end. 

What makes Rawls a great running back is that he can organically generate power upon contact with a defender. He couples that power with outstanding balance, which allows him to bounce off and break tackles on a consistent basis. 

Furthermore, he has experience in a zone scheme, and he knows how to make the appropriate reads. 

Rawls is reminiscent of former Cowboys running back Marion Barber in the way that he finishes runs and wears down defenses. He would have been a valuable asset to the Cowboys offense and would have given them a toughness they don't currently have at the running back position.

Draft Tre McBride

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The last mistake the Cowboys made during the draft was not selecting wide receiver Tre McBride in the seventh round. 

With Dwayne Harris' departure, the Cowboys are void of a return man who can also be the No. 5 wide receiver. McBride would have been the perfect choice to fill that role had they opted to go that way. Instead, the Cowboys decided to select Mark Nzeocha, an athletic linebacker who is coming off of an injury. 

If the Cowboys had selected McBride, they would have gotten a player who has the potential to be a great wide receiver in the future. McBride runs some of the best routes in the class, and he has fantastic hands. 

McBride was a discount Amari Cooper in this draft because of the fact that they win in very similar ways. Moreover, McBride has the ability to be a dynamic kick and punt returner as well. 

Unfortunately for McBride, he came from an extremely small school at William & Mary, which doesn't get a lot of exposure. This likely limited his exposure to NFL teams and led to his free fall through the draft. 

The Cowboys would have been smart to capitalize on the mistake of the other 31 NFL teams.

Sign Nick Fairley

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The Cowboys were looking for discounts throughout free agency as they made it abundantly clear they were looking for the high-priced free agents. One player whom many thought was going to receive a lot of attention was defensive tackle Nick Fairley. 

However, when the dust settled, he agreed to a one-year deal for just $5 million with the St. Louis Rams, which is a steal. Fairley is an extremely talented defensive tackle who has the potential to be one of the best in the league. 

Nonetheless, Fairley does have numerous character concerns, which likely led to teams passing on him in free agency. 

In terms of on the football field, Fairley would have been a great fit for the Cowboys because of his ability to play the under and nose tackle positions. Defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli loves when his interior defensive linemen can display quickness off the snap and penetrate their gap, which is exactly what Fairley can do. 

Fairley would have given the Cowboys one of the most talented defensive lines in the entire NFL. There would be no holes along the front four, and the linebacker and secondary would be free to make more plays. 

Fairley could have allowed the Cowboys defense to take the next step and be great, but instead the Cowboys may be stuck with just being good. 

Sign Matt Moore

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If you watched the Cowboys play the Arizona Cardinals last year, you were a witness to Brandon Weeden's awful performance. He proved in that game that he was not an adequate backup for Tony Romo. He doesn't handle pressure well and isn't a very accurate passer. 

This offseason, the Cowboys should have made it a priority to find a quarterback who could be a better replacement in case Romo goes down for another game or two this offseason. 

The perfect player would have been Matt Moore, a former Dallas Cowboy who has shown the ability to be a capable quarterback when called upon. 

Now, Moore isn't a great quarterback, but he takes what the defense gives him, and he doesn't make many mistakes. He is the type of quarterback who could have won the Cardinals game for the Cowboys. 

He understands how to make plays within the framework of an offense, and he has a good arm with above-average accuracy. 

Moore would have been the perfect backup for Romo, as he could lead the Cowboys to a win or two if Romo goes down.