5 Mistakes the Dallas Cowboys Can't Afford to Make This Offseason

The Dallas Cowboys are coming off an incredible year in which they were on the precipice of a Super Bowl run. Jerry Jones was named Executive of the Year as he, along with the rest of the Cowboys front office, made numerous moves that helped elevate the team to its success. 

This offseason, the Cowboys hope to continue to make shrewd and savvy moves to help the team get over the hump and make the Super Bowl. 

However, to accomplish this feat, the Cowboys will have to avoid certain traps and mistakes as they begin their quest for the Super Bowl. 

With that in mind, let's take a look at the five mistakes that the Cowboys cannot afford to make this offseason. 

Allowing Doug Free to Walk in Free Agency

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Everyone talks about if the Cowboys are bringing back DeMarco Murray or what contract the Cowboys are going to give Dez Bryant, but one of the most crucial decisions the Cowboys will make has to do with Doug Free. 

With Jermey Parnell and Free entering free agency this year, the Cowboys will have to decide which one they want to bring back. 

However, this shouldn't be much of a decision, as Free is head and shoulders above Parnell on the field. Look at how much better the Cowboys offensive line looked when Free was in the game compared to when Parnell manned the right tackle spot. 

Free is the elder statesman and leader of the offensive line, and losing him would be a huge blow to a unit that doesn't have a ton of experience. 

Outside of that, Free is a very good right tackle in the NFL, as he creates movement in the running game and has solid technique in pass protection. 

If Free is gone, the offensive line would take a huge hit, and with Tony Romo as your quarterback, that is not a chance the Cowboys should take. 

Failing to Improve Pass Rush

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Despite very good years from Tyrone Crawford, Jeremy Mincey and a late surge from DeMarcus Lawrence, the Cowboys pass rush was subpar for the majority of the year. 

Whether it is through free agency, the draft or both, the Cowboys need to add more talent to their defensive line in hopes of getting to and affecting the quarterback on a more consistent basis. 

The Cowboys could bring in players like Pernell McPhee or Brandon Graham in free agency, or they could draft a player like Eli Harold in hopes of improving the pass rush. 

An improved pass rush would have incredible effects on the rest of the defense because the secondary wouldn't have to cover as long and would look better as a unit. The defense would also likely cause more turnovers as a whole. 

If the Cowboys hope to make the Super Bowl next year, improving their pass rush has to be at the top of their priority list.

Reaching for a Need

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One of the pitfalls that teams fall into every year is overdrafting or reaching for a need in the NFL draft. Teams select a player much higher than he should go because he plays at a position of need for that team. 

As it has consistently been shown, the best teams draft the players with the best grade. Obviously, if there are players with similar grades, you take the one that plays at a position of need.

At the moment, the Cowboys' biggest need is a pass-rushing defensive end. However, if there are none of those types of players worthy of the Cowboys' first pick, they should look elsewhere or trade back to a place where the value of one of those defensive ends would match the pick. 

The Cowboys have holes that they need to fill, but they shouldn't sacrifice value in the hopes to fill those needs.  

Re-Signing DeMarco Murray

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DeMarco Murray had an incredible year this past season, but the Cowboys still shouldn't bring him back unless he drastically reduces his price. 

It wouldn't be smart to bring back a player who had more than 400 carries in the regular and postseason combined. Historically, players who have carried the ball 392 times or more have seen a significant drop-off in production in the next year. 

With the depth of the running back class in this year's NFL draft, there is very little incentive to bring Murray back when you can get a player like Duke Johnson or Tevin Coleman at a drastically reduced price. 

The biggest mistake some people are making in regards to Murray leaving is the fact that they believe the Cowboys can't find a single player who can replace Murray's production, which is true. However, the Cowboys don't need one player to replace Murray's production; they will have two or three players who will be tasked with replacing Murray's production. 

You don't pay for past production; you pay for future success, and because of this, the Cowboys shouldn't re-sign Murray. 

Overpaying in Free Agency

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Jerry Jones and the Cowboys front office have been scorned by overpaying for free agents in the past. Look no further than Brandon Carr. While he hasn't been bad, Carr has not lived up to his contract in any way. 

The Cowboys have had great success in finding underrated gems who come in at good prices during free agency, like Mincey last year. 

This means that the Cowboys should not pursue Ndamukong Suh or Justin Houston in this year's free agency. 

Instead, they should look at the second tier of free agents where they can find bargains who can come in and make a positive impact on the team. 

This allows the Cowboys roster to remain salary-cap friendly while still improving their team for next year.