The Dallas Cowboys 2021 season ended in disaster with a loss in the Wild Card Round to the San Francisco 49ers. The team seem poised to contend for the Super Bowl, but ended up getting sent packing after their playoff opener. Mike McCarthy will seek better playoff results in 2022 . He’ll certainly be addressing some of the team’s needs during the 2022 NFL offseason. Despite the Cowboys being the league’s leader in defensive takeaways under Dan Quinn (who will return in 2022), there are still areas of weakness within the unit. These issues can make the difference between America’s Team reaching the playoffs or falling flat. This is what the Cowboys need to address in the NFL offseason 2022.
Adding depth to the secondary behind Trevon diggs.
Trevon Diggs was undoubtedly the best cornerback in football, with a staggering 11 interceptions. However, the Cowboys are lacking star power in the secondary and some of their defensive backs were being picked on by opposing quarterbacks.
Anthony Brown is a solid cornerback but he can make a lot of mistakes. This was evident during the Thanksgiving matchup, in which Brown was penalized for four pass interference penalties. Brown was able to have a good year in Dallas with three interceptions, 17 pass defenses and 17 pass defenses. It wouldn’t surprise if the team decided to continue playing with him in 2022. Brown could be released as a salary cap casualty. If he is on the roster in 2022, Brown will earn $5 million in base salary. This amounts to a $6.5million cap hit. Jerry Jones and Co. may make the best financial decision and part ways with him, allowing them to pursue a better DB in the offseason.
The Cowboys need to look at other positions in secondary, including cornerback. Donovan Wilson is currently the only safety on contract for 2022. Jayron Kearse and Damontae Kazee are also set to go free agency. Wilson’s status as the only safety on the roster doesn’t inspire confidence. The Cowboys will likely look to resign other players or use free agency or the draft to fill the void. The Cowboys do not have much cap space but could restructure contracts to make way for a quality safety free-agent in the offseason.
Marcus Williams, a former Saints safety, is considered the best candidate for the position in the free-agent 2022 safety class. The Cowboys could be interested in Williams and the Jets’ Marcus Maye and the Bengals’ Jessie Bates. The Cowboys might consider a veteran player like Kareem Jackson, Justin Reid, and Devin McCourty if they are looking to spend less on a defensive playmaker.