Draft or Bust? Dallas Cowboys 'Backed Themselves Into a Corner' with Bad Moves

The Dallas Cowboys have forced themselves to hit on their draft selections after a poor free agency period.

Aug 20, 2022; Inglewood, California, USA; Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones (left) and chief / Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

One thing that the Dallas Cowboys have done better than other teams, more often than not, is draft well. With personnel boss Will McClay's hands firmly on the wheel since 2014, the Cowboys regularly hit on their early draft picks (last year's crop still a question mark).

But the Cowboys have now put themselves into a position due to a poor free agency period where their draft selections HAVE to work out. Dallas needs to find, at a minimum, two to three starters in this draft class, thanks to the organization's questionable approach this offseason.

For ESPN's Jordan Reid, he doesn't understand the Cowboys' offseason plans thus far.

“The Cowboys need starters at multiple spots,” Reid said on ESPN’s GetUp. “I look at their offensive line, you need a new starter at left tackle or left guard depending on what you want to do with Tyler Smith. You need a new starter at center, they still don't have any depth along the defensive line and some new linebackers too. They've backed themselves into a corner just because they haven't been very active at all in free agency with having to hit on a lot of draft picks in this draft class. I just don't understand the strategy that they have had this off season and a lot hinges on what they do in the upcoming draft.”

We can do ESPN a favor and "explain the strategy'' ... by directing the network to our "Blow It Up'' coverage. Meanwhile ...

So, is it draft or bust for the Cowboys? Given the pressure on the franchise to find quality starters with its first three picks, relying on rookies to "save" your skin in 2024 isn't the best strategy.

Aug 20, 2022; Inglewood, California, USA; Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones (left) and chief / Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

But the Cowboys find themselves there through their own doing. Last year's top picks, Mazi Smith and Luke Schoonmaker, failed to make any real impact (DeMarvion Overshown, third round, suffered an ACL injury in preseason). Given the state of the roster, that can't happen again. Dallas needs consistent contributions from its top draft picks next season.

Dak Prescott's contract situation, along with CeeDee Lamb's and Micah Parsons', is another layer to an odd approach this offseason.

We aren't sure if Jerry Jones truly believes that his Cowboys team, as it stands, is good enough to win a Super Bowl in 2024, but he can't really think that, can he? One could make the case that this Dallas team is far worse than the one that was curb-stomped by the Green Bay Packers in the Wildcard Round last year.

With so many jobs on the line from players and personnel alike, is Jerry really entrusting a group of rookies to be the saving grace for his team in 2024 amid the contract uncertainties from his three stars?

The Cowboys are indeed "all-in" on this upcoming draft class, simply because they HAVE to be.