Way-too-early ‘how-to’ offseason guide for fixing the Cowboys

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The Dallas Cowboys have their work cut out for them after the 2024 season is over.

To say the Dallas Cowboys have their work cut out for them during the offseason to get this team back on track is an understatement. If the current trajectory holds, not only will they be overhauling the entire coaching staff, but they have holes aplenty throughout the roster they need to plug in order to become a much more competitive team in 2025.

Right now there seems to be very little confidence in the Cowboys brass, especially after the recent trade for WR Jonathan Mingo. That trade means means Dallas is currently without a fourth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, much like they were last year after trading for QB Trey Lance. Who knows? Maybe this trade will work out better.

To regain the faith of Cowboys fans, Jerry Jones and Company absolutely need to hit some home runs this offseason. It starts with the coaching staff and continues to rebuilding/upgrading the roster.

While it's still way-too-early to predict with any kind of accuracy what offseason moves the Cowboys will make, or even have in mind, that's exactly what we are going to attempt to do today. This exercise is all in good fun, but somewhat educational as well as far as salary-cap management and roster building is concerned.

Here's a few things to keep in mind though. The Cowboys currently have a little over $25 million in salary-cap space and a total of five draft picks, one in each round except the fourth and sixth due to trades. They are also expecting to receive the max number (4) of compensatory picks. With that in mind, let's try to fix the Dallas Cowboys for next season.

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Mike McCarthy/Mike Zimmer out, Bobby Slowik/Robert Saleh in

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• HC/OC Bobby Slowik

Slowik is intriguing for several reasons and will be a hot name among head-coaching candidates this offseason for the Cowboys. He is from the Shanahan coaching tree that has had impressive success in the NFL. His coaching career started out on the defensive side of the ball before shifting over to offense. And, he's been instrumental to C.J. Stroud's early success in the year and a half he's been the Houston Texans offensive coordinator.

• DC Robert Saleh

The connection between Bobby Slowik and Robert Saleh dating back to their time together with the San Francisco 49ers (2017-2020) makes Saleh a hot name to be the Cowboys next defensive coordinator in this scenario. Learning under Pete Carroll, Dan Quinn, and Gus Bradley, his 4-3 base scheme shares similarities, but over the years he's added different wrinkles to make it his own. It's a scheme that's been successful and would work well with Dallas' personnel.

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3 players to renew, 3 to let go

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Players to Renew

• DT Osa Odighizuwa

Odighizuwa has been the only bright spot at DT over the past few years and should be a top priority to re-sign considering the nonexistent depth at the position. He'd be a great fit in Saleh's scheme and shouldn't break the bank to lock up long term.

• CB Jourdan Lewis

Since being drafted in the third-round in 2017, Lewis has been one of the more underrated/important defensive players for Dallas. Considering the injury problems at the CB position the past few years, he's close to a must re-sign and won't be too costly.

• RB Rico Dowdle

Dallas has virtually zero depth at RB after the 2024 season, making the position a top priority heading into 2025. Dowdle has proven he's worth keeping around and would be a low-cost re-sign who would pair nicely with a rookie draft pick for next season.

Players to let go

• RT Terence Steele

Steele has been a real liability as a pass blocker this year and will likely be a salary-cap casualty after the season. The Cowboys can save $4.6 million releasing him out right or $14 million by designating him a June 1 release.

• S Donovan Wilson

Wilson has been a liability in coverage this season and will likely be another salary-cap casualty. Dallas can save $5.35 million releasing him out right or $7 million by designating him a June 1 release.

• S Malik Hooker

Hooker, Dallas' other starting safety, has also played poorly this year and could very likely end up as another salary-cap casualty. The Cowboys can save $3.75 million releasing him out right or $5.75 million as a June 1 release.

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Free agent moves to make

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• WR Stefon Diggs

Signing Stefon Diggs makes sense on a number of levels for the Cowboys, even after his recent season-ending ACL injury. Not only will that likely make him more cost-effective, but he's exactly the type of WR2 they need to take pressure off the CeeDee Lamb. On top of that, he's familiar with Bobby Slowik's offense and would get to play with his brother Trevon.

• DT Jarran Reed

Even though he's 32 years old, Reed is still playing like one of the better defensive tackles in the league. He's currently ranked as the 21st best DT by Pro Football Focus (PFF) with an overall defensive grade of 72.0. He would be a great fit in Robert Saleh's scheme, solidifying/upgrading Dallas' defensive front, for as little as $4-5 million per season.

• OT Tyron Smith

OK, we already know this is not going to happen. But we’re are throwing it in here since we’re just spitballing. Tyron Smith may be having a down year in his first season with the Jets, but he'd be a tremendous help rejoining the Cowboys. Not only could he help groom Tyler Guyton, but he'd be an immediate upgrade over Terence Steele. At worst, he'd be a really good swing OT. A two year, $6.5 million contract with incentives like he received from New York would be worth every penny.

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2025 mock draft after offseason moves (per PFF simulator)

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• Round 1, Pick 11 - DT Kenneth Grant, Michigan

Add Kenneth Grant to the mix of Mazi Smith, Osa Odighizuwa, and Jarran Reed and the Cowboys suddenly have a formidable interior defensive line against both the run and pass.

• Round 2, Pick 43 - RB Omarion Hampton, North Carolina

The RB duo of Omarion Hampton and Rico Dowdle would give the Cowboys a pair of hard-nosed runners capable of imposing their will against opposing defenses.

• Round 3, Pick 75 - CB Tacario Davis, Arizona

At 6'4", 195-pounds, Davis is a rare pro-type CB in the NFL. He's explosive and moves really well for that size and could fight for reps in the rotation early on.

• *TRADE* Round 4, Pick 112 - WR Johnathan Mingo

Cross your fingers and hope a change of scenery helps Mingo become the WR many envisioned coming out of Ole Miss. All eyes will be on who else is available here in the draft.

• Round 5, Pick 147 - LB Jaishawn Barham, Michigan

If there's a LB in the 2025 draft class who compares favorably to what Robert Saleh had in Fred Warner, Barham (6'3", 248) is it. He could be a plug-and-play MIKE for Dallas as a rookie.

*Cowboys are also expected to be rewarded the max (4) compensatory picks this year