Dallas Cowboys: Top 6 Positions That Will Have New Starters in 2018

Despite their average success in 2017, the Dallas Cowboys will likely return most of the same starters in 2018. This is especially true on offense, where it wouldn't be surprising for the team to return all 11 starters and most of their key reserves.

But as we know, teams change every season. There are always a handful of new starters on the opening-day roster each year, and with the Cowboys having limited cap space once again this offseason, you can expect they will allow some starters to walk out the door this summer.

We know the lineup is going to change some, but at what positions? Where can you expect Dallas to look in the draft and in free agency to replace some of the talents who could leave after 2017? With just three games left in the regular season, here are the top six positions that will have new starters in 2018.

1-Technique

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One position that is guaranteed to have a new starter in 2018 is the 1-technique. Once the Cowboys decided to allow Terrell McClain to leave in free agency, they knew that they would have a new starter there this season. What they didn't anticipate was the rash of the injuries at the position.

Before the season began, Dallas cut 2016 free-agent signing Cedric Thornton. That forced Stephen Paea into a starting role, but he landed on injured reserve after playing in just four games for the Cowboys. Then the Cowboys were forced to turn to Brian Price, who signed from the Green Bay Packers before the season and was lost because of injury after just eight games.

In a desperation move, Dallas moved second-year defensive tackle Maliek Collins to the 1-technique. However, that's not a long-term solution, as he struggles to hold up against double teams and his best football comes as a penetrating under tackle.

The Cowboys know Collins' value isn't as a run-stopper and that they will likely have to address the position once again in the offseason. It's unlikely the team will use a high draft choice on a 1-technique, but they could look for a veteran run-stopper (such as Star Lotulelei from the Carolina Panthers) to fill that void. You can also expect Price will return in some fashion and potentially Richard Ash, who is filling in for the time being. However, this is a spot Dallas will address this offseason in some capacity.

Middle Linebacker

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One of the toughest decisions the Cowboys will have to make this offseason is deciding what to do at middle linebacker. Once again, Anthony Hitchens was outstanding Sunday. Every week, his play seems to improve to the point the Cowboys may not be able to let him leave. 

However, Dallas will likely let Hitchens test the free-agent waters, and he will likely be able to get a big deal on the open market. That would allow Jaylon Smith to become the team's full-time starter at MIKE linebacker. And to Dallas' credit, this transition means it would have successfully executed its plan when they drafted Smith in the second round in 2016. Let him recover in Year 1, let him rotate in during his second season and, finally, make him a starter in Year 3. 

That plan may have looked foolish earlier in the season, but Smith has played significantly better during the second half of the campaign. One would also assume Smith is only going to get healthier as his career goes on, and that should be terrifying for opposing defenses.

If, in fact, Smith does become the team's middle linebacker for the 2018 season, the team would be wise to invest in a top-100 draft pick in a linebacker to back up both Smith and Sean Lee, assuming Hitchens isn't re-signed.

Left Guard

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As mentioned in the introduction, the Cowboys offense is pretty much set. Their wide receiver corps could use a little more youth and speed, but for the most part, this offense is going to remain the same for the foreseeable future.

The only starting job that may be up for grabs is at left guard. Jonathan Cooper has seized that job this season and has managed to play well. He's been surprisingly effective, and the left guard job hasn't been as big of an issue as many anticipated it would be in the offseason.

However, Cooper may not be the team's long-term answer there, either. To start, he's a free agent this offseason, and with nearly a full year of starter film out on him, teams may be lining up to sign him. It's likely Dallas will want to retain him, but could the team want to upgrade that position even further? Cooper has provided serviceable play, but he's likely best suited to be a swing guard/center on a good offensive line.

Don't be surprised if the Cowboys opt to let Cooper leave, acquire a compensatory draft pick for his departure and then select a guard in the top 100. Dallas knows the team's success is built off its offensive line, and it may choose to upgrade that spot by using a premium selection in the 2018 draft.

Right Defensive End

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Yet again, it's going to be another offseason in which the Cowboys are in search of a right defensive end. DeMarcus Lawrence is a free agent and will likely be retained, but that still leaves a hole on the right side of the defensive line.

This season, Dallas has used a combination of players to try to fill that void. Tyrone Crawford, Benson Mayowa, Damontre Moore and Taco Charlton have all played snaps as a right defensive end, but no single player has taken the job.

Assuming the Cowboys decide to switch things up in 2018, there are two candidates who could seize that job. The first is David Irving. If they can find a suitable 1-technique, Maliek Collins could move back to 3-technique, and that would allow Dallas to experiment with Irving as the right defensive end. Irving has played most of his snaps as a defensive tackle this season, but he has the ability to play defensive end in a pinch. Dallas could spend the offseason preparing him to play that role, but making the switch might be the team's second choice.

Ideally, the Cowboys would love for Randy Gregory to return from his yearlong suspension to play as the right defensive end. Of all the players on the roster, he's got the most speed and flexibility to win from that spot. His talent has never been a question, so if he can return in 2018, he would likely win the job with ease. 

More than likely, the Cowboys will use a committee approach here again in 2018. But don't be surprised if Irving, Gregory or even Charles Tapper ends up being named the starter here to open the season. 

Safety

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Dallas' safety situation is a mess. Over the past two gameweeks, both Jeff Heath and Xavier Woods have played more snaps than Byron Jones, according to Footballguys. This season, the Cowboys have three safeties who have played more than 400 snaps. In 2018, they have to find two consistent starters at the position.

The Cowboys are likely to return their top four safety options in 2018. Jones, Heath, Woods and Kavon Frazier are all under contract for the next season. So why might the Cowboys have a new starter at the position? There is a chance Jones moves to cornerback.

Over the past four gameweeks, Jones has seen a snap percentage drop each week. With Heath playing more of the free safety role and Frazier and Woods splitting some of the strong safety snaps, there just isn't a natural spot for Jones. His best fit in this defense might be at outside cornerback.

If the Cowboys decided to move Jones to cornerback, he and Chidobe Awuzie would give the team plenty of size on the outside. It would also allow Jourdan Lewis to drop down into the slot and keep Anthony Brown in a reserve role.

No matter what the team decides to do at safety this offseason, you can bet they will want to figure out who their top two safeties are and then go forward. The team is using the final six games of the regular season to experiment with different personnel groupings. One way or another, you can bet Heath and Jones won't be the pair to start again in 2018.

Slot Cornerback

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How the Cowboys have handled slot cornerback snaps this season has been interesting. When he has been healthy, Orlando Scandrick has manned the position. But he has missed time with hand and back injuries this season, which has allowed Woods to contribute in the slot as well. But how the team handles the position going forward will be fascinating to watch for a variety of reasons.

First and foremost, there is no guarantee Scandrick returns next season. He will be 31 in February, and he hasn't been able to stay healthy. Because of the nagging injuries, his play has fallen off dramatically. He has failed to record an interception in his past 20 games and has just one in his past 25 starts, according to Pro Football Reference.

Scandrick has a cap hit of more than $5 million next season, according to Spotrac. It is feasible the team will try to trade him to free up some cap space or ask him to take a pay cut. Dallas might decide to release him in order to allow some of their younger players to play that spot. As mentioned in the previous slide, if Dallas were to move Jones to cornerback, that would allow Lewis and Brown to compete for that spot in 2018.

Either way, it's unlikely the Cowboys will have either Scandrick or Woods playing a high percentage of the slot snaps again next season. They will want to find a spot for their young cornerbacks, and by replacing Scandrick, they would be able to do so.