FRISCO, TEXAS - With the 2018 NFL Draft being held on the Dallas Cowboys home turf at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas from April 26-28, big changes have to happen after the Cowboys unfulfilled 9-7 season. This years NFL Draft will be the 83rd and the first to take place in a NFL stadium. Dallas has the 19th pick in the first round.

Cowboys need to succeed:

Wide Receiver: The Cowboys are in desperate need of an impact wide receiver. They need a playmaker to regain the passing game. During the 2017 season, the Cowboys had to rely on the running game because the connections made between Quarterback Dak Prescott and his receivers were few. Prescott either over-threw or under-threw the receivers, or Dez Bryant, Cole Beasley, Terrance Williams, or Brice Butler would drop the catch on a critical play. There was incompletion after incompletion, and the Cowboys need a receiver to step up and make plays to improve our offense and get it back in its rhythm. Our offense went from being ranked one of the top in 2016, to being ranked 14th this year and this is why. Not even necessarily a wide receiver, but even a talented pass-catch tight end would make a difference in the offensive line. Jason Witten is one of the oldest and most knowledgeable in the league, but he becomes a free agent in 2022 and doesn’t have many years left before he retires.

Tackle and Linebacker :

The Cowboys need more depth at these positions. When, left tackle Tyron Smith became injured and missed several games due to hip, groin, and knee injuries, Chaz Green and Byron Bell were not decent replacements for the Pro-Bowler. Chaz Green allowed QB Dak Prescott to be sacked 7 times in one game against the Falcons, and Byron Bell accumulated holding penalties that hurt the Cowboys on big plays, losing yardage when called back. When linebacker Sean Lee missed games due to his hamstring injury, Anthony Hitchens was no match for Lee’s instant impact and commitment on and off the field and in the locker-room. These two players are difference makers that have earned the star on their helmets. The Cowboys have to find suitable replacements for them when this happens again.

Those positions need to be given top priority in the draft to upgrading the Cowboys’ offense and defense going into the 2018 season. After the first few rounds the Cowboys also need a defensive back to secure the backfield because safety Byron Jones has struggled this year with unnecessary penalties and getting beat to the football. Once these changes are made, “America’s Team” has a better chance of attaining their goal of playoff appearances and a trip to Super Bowl 53 next season.