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  • 6/18/2025
Three players that could help bring the Cowboys to that playoff caliber level.
Transcript
00:00So did the Dallas Cowboys get better? Did they get worse? We might not find out until the season,
00:05but these are three players that I believe can single-handedly improve the team.
00:13Hey, what's up? It's Mauricio Rodriguez here at ADZ Sports Dallas. Today, we're talking about
00:18roster improvements. And here's what I mean with players that can move the needle just by
00:23themselves. Let's take first round draft pick Tyler Booker as an example. Good pick, obviously,
00:29one of the most important players the team added because he is the first rounder they pick. And
00:34they did so at number 12 overall. But he's not going to move the needle because he is going to
00:39replace Zach Martin, who is probably better than him anyways. So I couldn't tell you, well, this
00:45season is going to be different because the Cowboys, they picked Tyler Booker. I couldn't say that to
00:50you. But maybe there are three other players that I do believe are difference makers that are going to
00:55make a big enough impact to tell you the Cowboys might be better because of him. So let's start
01:01with number one and definitely the most obvious one, George Pickens. Sure, the Cowboys lost Brandon
01:07Cooks and they had to get a number two wide receiver. But I truly see Pickens as someone who
01:13is an upgrade over Brandon Cooks. Number one, Cooks was way past his prime and he never really clicked
01:19with Dak Prescott as we hoped he would. He had some moments for sure, but it wasn't really that
01:25special pairing that we thought it might turn out to be. Pickens is someone that is actually going to
01:31be a headache for whichever defense is facing you that week because they get a count for him and his
01:36insane ability to win while playing ISO ball one on one and the contested catches and all of that.
01:42And he also indirectly affects how you cover C.D. Lamb. You're talking about somebody with wide
01:48receiver one talent who is going to be playing wide receiver two. And if I look at the Cowboys and I'm
01:53like, hey, can this team go to the playoffs? Can this team be competitive in the playoffs? I don't
01:58know the answer to that, but one of the reasons why you would buy into that notion would be the arrival
02:04of George Pickens. So he had to lead off our list. Now, after him, things get pretty difficult because
02:11the Cowboys, they're not a front office that will add multiple impact makers in free agency and through
02:17the NFL draft. So really, it's difficult to choose. And that's why I'm going with a little
02:23bit of a risky pick here. I'm going with fifth round rookie running back Jadon Blue. Now, I'm not
02:28going to tell you that Jadon Blue is better than Rico Dowdle. Firstly, we've seen Rico Dowdle start
02:34at running back and be efficient. So it would be outrageous of me to assure you that, hey, Jadon Blue
02:40is going to be better, but I would bet he is going to be more explosive. And while that isn't
02:44everything, that is something that's been honestly missing from the Cowboys offense for
02:49so many years. Blue was a big play monster when he was at Texas, and that's all because
02:54of his speed, his acceleration. The big question with them is, is he big enough? Is he strong
03:00enough? Is he durable enough to be a true number one running back in the NFL and with the Dallas
03:05Cowboys? The answer to that might be no. But if the Cowboys can get him on the field enough,
03:11they might start getting those doubles, those triples, those home runs that we have rarely seen
03:16in these offense for so many years. So Jadon Blue is one of the players that to me could be one of
03:21those guys that can single-handedly upgrade the team just because he could single-handedly be giving
03:26the Cowboys big play after big play after big play. We'll learn more from him in training camp,
03:31but there's something there for sure. And at number three, I've got defensive tackle Solomon Thomas.
03:36Now, quick disclaimer here, I did think about Dante Fowler Jr. because I liked that signing
03:42more than I did the Solomon Thomas one. But with Fowler, you're going really from Marcus Lawrence
03:47to Fowler. So I'm not sure how much of a needle mover that one is versus just a good move. With
03:54Solomon Thomas, though, I do think you upgraded the defensive tackle room because behind Oza Odigisua,
04:00you didn't really have a productive player at three technique in terms of depth. With Solomon Thomas,
04:06you do. And what that is going to do is Oza's legs are going to be fresher. And Solomon Thomas is
04:12someone that as a backup, man, you're talking about a luxury defensive tackle as far as backups go.
04:18In other words, there's always going to be a threat at three technique. And I do think that
04:22it might have moved the needle because the reps that Oza takes off, you're going to actually have
04:26a productive NFL player there. The Cowboys do need a nose tackle. But as far as three technique goes,
04:32hey, I'm happy with where things are going. Now, let me know in the comments,
04:35who do you think is going to move the needle for the Cowboys? Who is somebody that can single-handedly
04:40improve the team? I'm looking forward to seeing what you've got.
04:43Woo!
04:48Oh!
04:48Oh!

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