Inside The Star
At the time of this writing, we're roughly 80 hours from the start of the 2024 NFL Draft.
We know the Dallas Cowboys have a lot of holes to fill on the roster. They've lost several players to free agency and retirement.
They've only signed two outside free agents – a linebacker and a free agent — but still need players at those positions.
Barring any trades, Dallas has seven picks in the seven-round draft this weekend.
But they do not have a fourth rounder. They do have a pair of seventh rounders however.
We also know they have some contract extension issues – including one involving their starting quarterback of the past eight seasons.
But it's what we don't know as we approach Thursday's first round that is driving Cowboys fans up the wall.
Speculation is running rampant on social media and among the talking heads. What we have in common – and this includes me – is that none of us have a clue as to what's coming.
There is, at most, three people who know what the Cowboys have in mind.
Jerry Jones, Stephen Jones, and Will McClay.
McClay isn't talking. Nor should he be.
Jerry and Stephen are talking, and most of us wish they'd shut up.
Of course, most of us wish they'd just go away and take the rest of the Jones family with them, but that's the subject of another post.
Stephen recently indicated that Dallas needed to get bigger and stronger in the middle of the defense. He was clearly alluding to the inability to stop the run.
Problem is, they were supposed to have addressed that last year by drafting Mazi Smith in the opening round.
Then they turned him into Dat Nguyen by making him drop 30 pounds in training camp.
Rumor has it he's beefing back up but Dallas still needs to add another defensive tackle to the roster.
The Dak Prescott drama heated up last week. Prescott seemed to hint at the possibility of moving on after this year.
As most regular readers know, I'm prepared to help him pack – preferably before this year's training camp.
I know I've seen enough after eight seasons to know he won't get Dallas to the Super Bowl. But I don't know if the Cowboys' front office has yet.
So, we continue to wait and see. Will they extend Prescott or not?
Who knows? I sure don't and neither does anyone...
