Dallas Cowboys

5 positions the Cowboys must address this offseason

Published Jan. 7, 2016 6:00 p.m. ET

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The Dallas Cowboys 2015 season was a dud, and they simply can't afford to let their 2016 season stoop that low again. Severe injuries to key players exposed Dallas' lack of depth, and it wasted away an entire season. Now, the Cowboys, armed with a fourth-overall draft pick, will look to retool and revamp their 2016 squad. Here are five areas the Cowboys should look to upgrade this offseason.

Now is the time to invest in the future. When Tony Romo went down with two separate collarbone injuries, the Cowboys faltered horribly. Matt Cassel, Brandon Weeden and Kellen Moore all slung passes in starts for Dallas, and all three produced a combined single win. Romo will be back next season, so the position doesn't need to be addressed as an emergency basis. But Romo is going to be 36 at the start of the season, and we already know he is somewhat injury prone (he's broken his collarbone three times now). And if the best available quarterback is twiddling his thumbs at the draft table while the Cowboys are on the clock come April 30, why not take a shot?

The Cowboys could use a bit of variety up the middle of their defensive line. Both Nick Hayden and Tyrone Crawford fit more as a defensive tackle in the 4-3 scheme, and Hayden becomes a free agent this offseason anyway. Even if Hayden does return, it'd be nice to bring in a 3-4 tackle to spice up the defense a bit. It doesn't have to be a high-priced tackle like a B.J. Raji-type (though that would obviously be a nice 2016 free agent signing), but an adequate starter that's available will certainly help. Damon Harrison of the New York Jets would be a great fit if he opts to test free agency waters this offseason. But a trade option may end up being in the Cowboys' best interest.

Dallas' top guys, Brandon Carr and Morris Claiborne have uncertain futures with the Cowboys. Claiborne is set to hit free agency. Carr is signed through 2017, but this season was a bit of a letdown for the 29-year-old. Was he really worth the second-highest cap hit on the team this season, behind only Romo? If the Cowboys cut or trade Carr before June 1, they save $6.383 million, but they will have $7.43 million in dead money against the cap in 2016. If they cut or trade him after June 1, they save $9.1 million, but still have $4.717 million in dead money against the cap. If the Cowboys part ways with both, that opens the door for a brand new addition, and the Cowboys would desperately need to sign a starting corner or two.

Darren McFadden did an excellent job this season, rushing for 1,089 yards and three touchdowns. And when you consider the fact that he's only carrying a $1.850 million cap hit next season, his value is through the roof. But, outside of McFadden, the Cowboys don't really have any other option at running back. A change of pace back could significantly help out McFadden and the Cowboys' offense. They could look for a late round draft pick to fill the void, as the Washington Redskins did with Matt Jones, or they could turn to free agency and snag a guy like Matt Asiata or Bernard Pierce. Or, maybe because of McFadden's price tag, Dallas goes all out and snags Lamar Miler.

Rolando McClain hasn't exactly been a bonafide middle linebacker for the Cowboys. When the Cowboys originally sent a sixth-round draft pick to the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for the technically retired McClain back in 2014, there was virtually no risk in the move. Dallas has offered McClain two different one-year contracts to try to coax him into working hard for that big contract, but he's just not cutting it. The simple solution would be to just move Sean Lee to the middle linebacker position, but he's going to be 30 next year and he's clearly more comfortable as an outside linebacker. One interesting name that could be available? The Redskins' Keenan Robinson. He's essentially taken a back seat to Will Compton, Mason Foster and maybe even Perry Riley Jr.

*Salary cap information provided by Over The Cap

Tommy Chalk writes about the NFL and NHL for FOX Sports. You can find him on Twitter @Tommy_Chalk