Dallas Cowboys draft needs: How to improve an already strong special teams unit (2024)

The NFL draft is coming later this month. This series looks at how the Dallas Cowboys stand at every position, as the team prepares to make its selections in Detroit. The 10th and final installment is special teams:

Exactly how good were the Cowboys’ specialists last year?

When two of the three made the Pro Bowl, there was genuine disappointment within the building.

Kicker Brandon Aubrey and punter Bryan Anger are coming off a stellar season, which was reflected in their All-Star selections. Long snapper Trent Sieg just missed the cut, but this trio was the NFL’s best in 2023. Notably, each player’s arrival in Dallas came without investing a draft pick.

The Cowboys won’t draft a specialist next week. But make no mistake: They can improve on special teams.

Players on roster

Brandon Aubrey: Made the first 35 field goals to begin his career, nearly doubling the previous NFL record of 18. Booted 99 touchbacks to break another league record. Neither mark may be topped in his generation’s lifetime.

Bryan Anger: An excellent teammate, “Banger” embraced being a guide to his first-year kicker while leading the NFC with a 44.9-yard net average (45.8 when C.J. Goodwin was on the field).

Trent Sieg: If he wasn’t doing his job at a high level, the first two on this list couldn’t. Consistent ball placement and rotation made for a reliable start to the field-goal operation.

C.J. Goodwin: Long overdue for his first career Pro Bowl selection. Appeared on track before a Week 5 pectoral muscle tear.

KaVontae Turpin: Speedster still awaits a regular-season return touchdown (teammate’s missed block cost him in Week 8 on a 63-yard kickoff return). New NFL kickoff play boosts his chances. Saw just 10 kickoff returns in 2023 compared with 49 touchbacks.

Strengths

Clearly, there is much to like here.

Beyond Aubrey not missing a field goal until a blocked 32-yard try in Week 18, the Plano native was a perfect 10-for-10 on attempts of at least 50 yards. For context, Blair Walsh and Justin Tucker are the only other kickers who can claim single-season NFL perfection with at least 10 attempts of that length.

Aubrey’s conversions included distances of 58, 59 and 60 yards.

Rather than repeat and belabor what the Cowboys have from a personnel standpoint, coordinator John Fassel bears mention. Apart from his annual contributions, he spearheaded the league’s push to adopt the new kickoff play that will debut in 2024.

Fassel’s research and insight of the play, what techniques work, what personnel types are ideal, could translate into an early-season edge while all 32 clubs work to gain a handle on the play’s possibilities.

Weaknesses

The Cowboys have a big problem on special teams.

Specifically, they aren’t big enough.

Last year’s unit was built more on speed than size, part of the issue tied to a light linebacker position. Dallas opted not to re-sign Luke Gifford, the 2022 team leader in special-teams snaps, and counted on DeMarvion Overshown, a rookie third-round pick, to help offset the loss. Unfortunately, he suffered an ACL tear in the preseason.

The team was short on size. Losing Goodwin left it short on experience.

Healthy now, Goodwin is back on a one-year contract. Still, it would behoove the Cowboys to search for an elite gunner with whom to pair him. Wide receiver Jalen Tolbert and defensive end Sam Williams were busy at gunner in 2023. Both are on track for larger positional roles this season after the departures of wide receiver Michael Gallup and defensive end Dorance Armstrong.

Three draft targets

LB Edefuan Ulofoshio, Washington: Core special teamer in college, even as a senior starter. Has the makeup, on and off the field, of a future NFL special-teams captain.

DE Javon Solomon, Troy: Led all FBS players with 16 sacks in 2023. Pairs the height of a point guard (almost 6-1) with the length of a small forward (80 ¼-inch wing span).

S Tyler Owens, Texas Tech: Explosive athlete with the physicality and length to be a special teams ace. Draft him late Day 3 as a gunner opposite Goodwin. Whatever he becomes on defense is a bonus.

Bottom line

Past production is never promised to repeat.

That said, if the Cowboys can again find elite play from their specialists while better stocking their roster depth with the size and ability necessary to thrive on special teams, there is no reason this unit — while capitalizing on Turpin’s increased touches — can’t become the NFL’s best.

This standard should be the Cowboys’ goal.

The draft can move them closer to it.

Cowboys draft need series

— Quarterbacks

— Running backs

— Wide receivers

— Tight ends

— Offensive line

— Defensive ends

— Defensive tackles

— Linebackers

— Defensive backs

— Special teams

Find more Cowboys coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.