Had Tony Romo stayed healthy this past year, there's no telling what the storyline surrounding the Dallas Cowboys would have been as we enter the offseason. Instead of Kirk Cousins preparing to cash in on a timely breakout season, perhaps we'd be talking about Big D repeating as NFC East champions. But instead, the 4-12 Cowboys are littered with question marks, especially on the defensive side of the ball.
The Cowboys ranked No. 17 in yards allowed per game (348.1) and No. 16 in points (23.4). They allowed the seventh-highest opposing completion percentage (65.2) in the NFL and finished No. 19 in sacks (33.0). The stats tell a pretty clear story: the Cowboys need to shore up their secondary and get after opposing quarterbacks more in 2016. With the No. 4 overall pick in the NFL draft, they can easily address one of those needs if they so choose.
"The focus so far has been on quarterback considering Tony Romo's age - he turns 36 in April - and injury history, but this is a team that has plenty of needs, especially defensively," ESPN Cowboys reporter Todd Archer wrote. "It's difficult to pick between cornerback and pass-rusher. The Cowboys are thin at both areas. Morris Claiborne, the sixth overall pick in 2012, is a free agent to be, Brandon Carr has a $13.7 million salary-cap figure and Orlando Scandrick missed last season because of major knee surgery, making cornerback a pressing need. But a cornerback's job is easier if the team can affect the quarterback, and the Cowboys are likely to let Greg Hardy leave in free agency. Jeremy Mincey and Jack Crawford also are expected to hit the market. The good news is that with the fourth pick the Cowboys stand a decent chance of landing a Jalen Ramsey or [Joey] Bosa, depending on what happens with the three picks in front of them."
Bosa may be wishful thinking on Archer's part. Largely considered the best overall prospect, the Ohio State defensive lineman could be gone within the first three picks. Sure, Leonard Williams fell to the New York Jets at No. 6 last year, but he wasn't quite the pass-rusher that Bosa is. The Titans are expected to offensive tackle with their first pick, but don't be surprised if Bosa gets snatched up soon after.
Ramsey could come in and be an immediate impact player like Byron Jones was this year. Jerry Jones isn't wrong to be thinking about quarterbacks at No. 4 - Carson Wentz has been mentioned several times - but he also wouldn't be doing a disservice to the team if he landed on someone who could help right away.
As always, the NFL draft is an inexact science. Who knows which direction the Cowboys will go in?
