The Dallas Cowboys have very little room to be better, at least in the regular season. After all, how much can you improve from three consecutive 12-win seasons?
For them, it's all about what happens once the playoffs kick off in January. Naturally, a higher seed should position them for better results but fresh off of a wasted second seed last year... well, you get it.
The Cowboys could get the No. 1 seed and it still wouldn't matter until they show us they can make it count. In a recent article, I listed three reasons why the Cowboys could be a better team entering the 2024 NFL season. Now, we turn the tables and break down the three reasons why they could be worse.
1. Tackle trouble: Tyler Guyton and Terence Steele
The truth is we know little about what the offensive tackle room will look like for the 2024 Cowboys. Let's start with the rookie.
Tyler Guyton is a rare athlete . Someone his size shouldn't move as smoothly and quickly as he does. However, his hand placement and punch accuracy is rough on film and it might cost him when faced with top-tier edge rushers like Myles Garrett (who he'll have to face in Week 1 ). The Cowboys need Guyton's development to take place quickly but there are serious question marks about how he'll do in Year 1.
Although Tyron Smith wasn't elite as a run blocker last year and Guyton could get the job done on the ground, it'll be pass protection where the Cowboys are significantly downgrading. Smith was one of the best in the league last year and now Dak Prescott's blind-side will be covered by the raw rookie.
Then there's Steele, whose struggles in 2023 might be explained by his rehab from ACL injury. He needs to prove that's what limited him last year. Otherwise, the Cowboys could have subpar pass-protecting tackles in both sides of the offensive line, which could really hamper the offense from being efficient and clean.
2. The front seven is highly concerning
Despite the Cowboys adding Eric Kendricks at linebacker and getting DeMarvion Overshown back from injury, the front seven didn't improve. The defense, which will now be coached by Mike Zimmer, is set to emphasize stopping the run but it has serious concerns up front.
The Cowboys lost Johnathan Hankins and the biggest gamble they made at defensive tackle was to simply cross their fingers and hope the unproven Mazi Smith turned things around after an underwhelming rookie year in which he struggled to maintain nose tackle weight.
Additionally, the Cowboys lost a couple of key defensive ends in Dorance Armstrong and Dante Fowler Jr. There are legit concerns about the depth at defensive line, and the front seven could be a serious weakness.
3. The Trevon Diggs Risk
Recently, Cowboys players coming back from season-ending knee injuries have struggled to come back to play at the same level. Michael Gallup and Terence Steele weren't the same.
Now, Trevon Diggs is set to come back and with no Stephon Gilmore on the team, the Cowboys will be highly vulnerable at cornerback if he isn't 100%. His rehab appears to be going well but we'll learn more once training camp kicks off at the end of the month.
One thing is for certain: The Cowboys can't afford Diggs not coming back at an extremely high level as their depth is a serious concern, unlike last year when the team still had Gilmore and DaRon Bland following his injury. Among the risks they've taken on this offseason, not re-signing Gilmore and betting it all on Diggs' health is among the biggest ones.
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