1. Dan Bailey has a good shot to be the next kicker. His kickoffs were fine. In fact, I might prefer the depth on his kicks to David Buehler's booming them through the end zone. I would have liked to see the rookie attempt a FG. I'm not big on first-year kickers, but if the knock on this guy is his kickoffs, I didn't see a problem in this game.

2. Rookie fourth-round pick Dan Arkin played pretty well. He seemed technically sound but was overmatched by Kevin Vickerson a few times. Arkin moves well; he got out to the second level a couple of times and made blocks. He doesn't give up. He's just a hard-nosed fighter with a mean streak. I thought Phil Costa did OK as well, so I'm feeling better about the interior line right now.

3. If I had to pick between Josh Thomas and Alan Ball right now, I'd keep Thomas. He's another gritty player, and he's pretty decent in coverage and not afraid of contact. Plus-10 points for slapping Tebow around.

4. The Cowboys gave Raymond Radway (scoring a touchdown below) every chance to make it through the first cut with his extensive playing time at wide receiver. I'm not sure he did enough, scoring once but looking lost on several routes. Nevertheless, he's intriguing.

5. Dwayne Harris is a lock to make the team as the fourth receiver.

6. Felix Jones is going to put up some eye-popping stats this year if he can stay healthy. I'd like to see Demarco Murray and Tashard Choice back in the lineup, because, frankly, neither Lonyae Miller nor Phillip Tanner look ready to assume a major role in the offense.

7. Tyron Smith was unbelievably good for a rookie. I'm particularly impressed with his ability to recover from a misstep. He showed really great footwork. He made a couple of mistakes, but for a 20-year old-rookie with only two years of significant playing time at USC, he played way beyond my expectations.

8. Stephen McGee struggled early, then got a little bit of a rhythm late. I can't understand how he handles the pass rush. Sometimes he seems to flush from the pocket before he has to, other times it's like he doesn't know it's coming. I was hoping for more progress from him, but I'm not totally displeased.

9. Shaun Chapas isn't beating out Chris Gronkowski unless he gets a lot better. Chapas seems too unsure of himself at this point and not athletic enough in the passing game. I'd rather keep Martin Rucker as a fourth TE than either of them, though.

10. Among the bottom of the OL depth chart, I was surprised to see Jeremy Parnell taking second team reps at left tackle. He didn't make any glaring errors, but he plays a little too high in his stance for my liking. I'm not sure if the order of the rotation means that Parnell is ahead of Sam Young or if they just wanted to take a longer look at Parnell. Nothing else really stood out to me. Pepa Letuli was mediocre, and I thought Kevin Kowalski got pushed around a little in his limited playing time. I didn't watch Bill Nagy very closely.

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Cowboys Draft Grade: D+

Without the ability to sign free agents until the lockout ends, everybody knew how important the 2011 draft would be for the Dallas Cowboys. With major needs on the offensive line, defensive line and in the secondary, most people thought they would attack those areas hard early in the draft to hopefully find some potential starters for next year. Unfortunately, they didn't exactly do that. Let's go through the picks.

(1) Pick No. 9: OT Tyron Smith (USC)
At pick No. 9, the Cowboys did pretty much exactly what every mock drafter thought they would do and took the first tackle off the board in Tyron Smith. Now, it is hard to call this a bad pick, because you are almost never able to get the best tackle in the draft with the ninth pick. They are usually off the board by then. However, learning that the Cowboys could have traded back to 16 and picked up another second-round pick, I was a little upset to learn they didn’t do that. With the extra pick, they could have filled their main needs at tackle, defensive end and safety in the first two rounds.

Smith should be a productive starter for years, though, and was a very safe pick. He is 6-5 and 305 pounds, but it is his athleticism that everyone raves about. He is also only 20 years old, so he still has a lot of time to learn. Smith should start for the Cowboys at right tackle from day one, but with his athleticism, expect a switch to the left side in a few short years.

(2) Pick No. 40: LB Bruce Carter (North Carolina)
Here was your first "what!?!" moment of Day Two.

With still plenty of NFL starting talent left on the board, the Cowboys decided to draft another linebacker project in the second round. Just like last year with Sean Lee, the Cowboys drafted another inside linebacker with a knee injury. Carter tore his ACL last year and only had surgery on it in December. Carter was a heck of a player at UNC, and he is said to be one of the most versatile linebackers to come out in the past couple of years, but with more immediate impact players still out there, I don't see how the Cowboys decided to take a guy that probably won't even be ready to play when the season opens.

(3) Pick No. 71: RB DeMarco Murray (Oklahoma)
Here is that second "what!?!" moment.

With good size (6-0, 213 pounds) and exceptional speed (Murray ran a 4.41 40-yard dash at the combine), DeMarco Murrray would be a quality "home run threat" type of running back on any team, but I thought the Cowboys already had that guy in Felix Jones? And don’t they have bigger needs than running back?

To me, this is a pretty obvious "good bye" to Marion Barber. The 'Boys will continue to roll with a youthful rotation of running backs and most likely cut ties with Barber's over-sized contract.

Once again, though, there were so many guys taken after Murray that could have helped fill an immediate need for the Cowboys. Murray could be good, but it was just a weird spot to take a running back.

(4) Pick No. 110: OL David Arkin (Missouri State)
On Day Three, the Cowboys finally seemed to get back on track. Arkin was one of the A-listers from the non-Division 1-A schools. At 6-5 and 300 pounds, Arkin is said to be a very quick, smart player who is always one of the hardest working guys on the field (an attribute that hopefully he can share with his new teammates). Arkin played tackle in college, but will most likely slide to the inside of the line and back-up Kyle Kosier and the recently questionable play of Leonard Davis.

(5) Pick No. 143: CB Josh Thomas (Buffalo)
Finally in the fifth round the Cowboys decide to spend a pick on someone in the secondary.

Besides Smith, Thomas probably got the highest acclaim of any draft pick by the Cowboys. He obviously didn’t play in the strongest conference in college, but his amazing speed (ran a 4.40 in the 40-yard dash) and incredible instincts at the cornerback position are what everybody is raving about. He played a lot of zone coverage in college and will have to adapt to more man coverage in Rob Ryan's defense, but it is expected that he will make an immediate impact in the secondary and not just in special teams like most fifth-, sixth- and seventh-round draft picks.

(6) Pick No. 176: WR Dwyane Harris (East Carolina)
The comparison everybody has heard with Harris is Wes Welker. Now, Cowboy Nation can only hope that he actually turns into a player as good as Welker, but he is said to have the same characteristics coming out of college. He's not very fast (ran a 4.55 40 yard dash), but is very quick, elusive, has great hands, and exceptional run-after-catch ability. He was also a major impact on special teams for East Carolina, so if anything, the Cowboys should be adding another good player to their already very solid special teams unit.

(7) Pick No. 220: FB Shaun Chapas (Georgia)
The fullback position is quickly becoming a lost one in the NFL, but Chapas will be an instant upgrade for the Cowboys. Chris Gronkowski was serviceable at times for the Cowboys last season, but Chapas will be a much better lead blocker in short yardage situations. Expect to see him ahead of Gronkowski on the depth chart when the season starts.

(7) Pick No. 252: C Bill Nagy (Wisconsin)
Considering he was the third-to-last pick, Nagy received a fair amount of criticism. He played center for the first time in 2010 and only played three games in '09. It is generally felt that he has already hit his ceiling as far as on-the-field ability, so why didn't the Cowboys take someone with more of an upside?

Summary
To me, this draft felt slightly better than an absolute failure. And who knows, in a couple years it could end up having been one.

With their first four picks, they really only solved one of the three major needs they had and that was with the selection of Tyron Smith in the first round. I also still think they should have traded out of that pick and added another second-round pick.

Bruce Carter and DeMarco Murray were just horrible picks to me. Hopefully they both end up proving me wrong, but with the other needs the Cowboys had, they just seemed like very poor choices in those spots.

Hopefully with the draft they had, the Cowboys are planning on attacking free agency very hard whenever it finally opens up. They are still extremely thin at defensive end and cornerback, and need to find a starter for at least one of the safety positions, and possibly both.

On the whole, I think it was a pretty disappointing 2011 draft for Jerry Jones, Jason Garrett and Co.

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Plan A: Take a star if one is there
I know this is pretty obvious, but if Patrick Peterson, Von Miller or Marcell Dareus fall to the Cowboys at No. 9, I think they have a no-brainer for a decision. Those three specifically are arguably the best talents in the draft and they all play positions that the Cowboys could use improvement at. Yes, I think the offensive line, defensive end and safety are the positions the Cowboys have the greatest needs at this off-season, but they can't pass up on that kind of talent if it were to fall into their lap at No. 9.

Plan B: Trade down
Assuming one of those stars does not fall to them, I think the Cowboys have to try to trade out of the ninth pick and acquire another pick in the second and/or third rounds. Like I said before, the offensive line, mostly offensive tackle, defensive end, and safety are the positions the Cowboys need to really concentrate on in the draft, especially considering that we have no idea when free agency will open up. Having said that, there isn't a super obvious choice for them at No. 9 for any of those positions. Not a single safety will likely be drafted in the first round. Offensive tackle and defensive end are options, but there are plenty of first-round talents at both of those positions that the Cowboys could select somewhere between picks 10 and 25 if they can trade down.

It is usually never easy to trade down in the draft, but this year most experts are saying we will see a lot of it. It's mostly because of the odd draft day trading rules that the lockout has caused as well as the number of quarterbacks that are expected to go in the first round and at the top of the second. It is expected that a lot of teams will be jockeying for position to get one of them. If the Cowboys can pull off a trade with one of these teams, move back a few spots, and pick up a good draft pick or two, I think that is definitely what they should do.

Plan C: Stay put and draft what you need
If some of those top stars are gone and the Cowboys can't trade out, I think they have a choice among four guys: OT Tyron Smith (USC), OT Anthony Castonzo (BC), DE J.J. Watt (Wisconsin) and DE Cam Jordan (Cal).

Besides Marcell Dareus and Nick Fairley, who could both theoretically switch to the defensive end spot in a 3-4 defense, Watt (pictured) and Jordan are the two best in the draft. The Cowboys have said that whoever they draft with their first pick, they want to be able to step in and play right away. Both of these guys could do that, and do it well. I still believe it is a slight reach for them at No. 9, but at least the Cowboys would have their choice between the two if they decide defensive end is where they need to concentrate. There will be a big hole there with the departure of multiple guys on the defensive line, including starter Marcus Spears, and it is very important to keep that front three solid so guys like DeMarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer can cause some havoc in pass rush.

Most of the experts, though, think that the Cowboys will look at offensive tackle with the ninth pick. To me, the cream of the crop is Castonzo and Smith, but the two are very different. Castonzo is the grizzled senior who has started on the offensive line at Boston College since his freshman year. He is a bit bigger than Smith, has more experience, and is considered to be the most "NFL ready" tackle in this year's class. Smith on the other hand is smaller, only 20 years old, and is considered a work in progress. His ceiling though is considered to be one of the highest in the entire draft. He added weight this off-season and is one of the most athletic tackles in the draft. He could end up being one of the best long-term investments in this draft, but the question is whether or not the Cowboys want to wait that long.

I really don't have a favorite between Smith, Castonzo, Watt and Jordan, because I think they can all be great for the Cowboys and should all be available at No. 9. Whoever Jerry Jones and company think is the best fit for the team, I am fine with.

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It's time for the D word (as in Draft) in Big D and with a top ten pick for the first time since 2003, the Cowboys have a chance to get a real difference maker onto the team. Dallas has had a terrible draft record since Bill Parcells left, so the team needs to take advantage of the high pick if they are to compete for a title any time soon.

Here is an assesment of which positions Dallas needs to address in the draft:

Quarterback: Moderate
I know Tony Romo is under a microscope and there are some who say he is on the hot seat. Conspiracy theorists may think Jerry will try for Cam Newton if he isn't grabbed too early just because of the razzle dazzle. The truth is that there just aren't any quarterbacks in the draft worth spending a high pick on if you aren't desperate. And Dallas isn't desperate. Maybe a mid-round QB to groom for a backup since Jon Kitna is 103 years old. That's about it.

Running Back: Low
I know, I know. Dallas could have had Chris Johnson, Rashard Mendenhall or Jamaal Charles, all of whom have been more productive than Felix Jones so far. MB3 is strictly between the tackles and Tashard Choice is a solid three. If a back that you love falls into your lap, then draft him. Otherwise, there are more pressing needs.

Wide Receiver: Low
I have a friend who wants Dallas to take a reciever just so they can put him in front of Roy Williams. That's good comedic effect, but bad drafting. Dallas doesn't need a receiver in this draft. Jason Witten makes tight end a low need as well.

Offensive Line: Urgent
The offensive line is going to get worse before it gets better and that's saying something. Marc Columbo was awful last season, and Dallas could upgrade both guard spots. Even center isn't out of the question since Andre Gurode is aging. Many draft "experts" have Dallas grabbing offensive tackle Tyron Smith from USC with its first pick. It definitely fills a need although it remains to be seen if he's worth that high of a pick. It'd be better to trade down if the Cowboys simply want to restock the offensive line.

Defensive Line: High
Jay Ratliff is a good player, but both defensive end spots could be upgraded. If the Cowboys trade down, perhaps JJ Watt or Cam Heyward could fill the spot.

Linebacker: Low
Anthony Spencer didn't have the breakout season some expected him to have last year and Keith Brooking is over the hill. But there's still DeMarcus Ware and Brady James, plus the Cowboys grabbed Sean Lee early last year.

Secondary: Urgent
Why is secondary marked urgent? Did you see this team play last season? Mike Jenkins basically pinned a yellow flag onto his jersey, Terence Newman looked bad, and the safeties were a total disaster. There is nowhere to go but up and Patrick Peterson or Prince Amukamura would be a welcome addition to the fold. Just don't make us watch that nonsense again, please.

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The offseason needs of the Dallas Cowboys haven't changed much from last year at this time, except for an increase in the number of positions that need to be addressed. Clearly Jerry Jones needs to look up the definition of the word “need”, but that is an argument for another time.

Before I get into breaking it down into specific positions, take a look at these extremely interesting defensive statistics from last year compiled by Mickey Spagnola of DallasCowboys.com.

- 23rd in total defense (26th in passing defense)
- Gave up 5,628 yards of offense (most in team history)
- Gave up 3,894 net passing yards (1963 was the only time Dallas gave up more)
- Gave up 436 points (most in team history)
- Gave up 33 passing touchdowns (ties the team record set in 1962)

So what does this tell us, Cowboys fans?

That's absolutely right, the defense does need to get better!

Now, I have no doubts that they will improve under the guidance of new defensive coordinator Rob Ryan (I am still trying to figure out how the guy didn't get a head coaching interview anywhere), but there are some specific spots that clearly need to be addressed immediately.

Safety
Just like last year, safety is right at the top of the “needs” list for the Cowboys. Allan Ball and Gerald Sensabaugh will most likely not be re-signed, and that means the Cowboys could possibly be looking for two brand-new starting safeties.

Unfortunately for the Cowboys, there are not a numerous amount of elite safeties in this year's draft. Rahim Moore out of UCLA is, right now, considered the best safety in the draft. If he drops a bit, the Cowboys could possibly get him in the second round, but otherwise they will have to address the position at least once or twice in the mid to late rounds.

There are a few quality free agents though that could definitely be brought in to help solve the Cowboys problems. Although some of these guys could be re-signed by their former teams, I wouldn't mind any combination of two of these guys starting for the Cowboys next year. I could probably even live with seeing Sensabaugh again.

Dawan Landry (BAL)
Eric Weddle (SD)
Abram Elam (CLE)
Gerald Sensabaugh (DAL)
Darren Sharper (NO)

Cornerback
Now unlike most people addressing the needs of the Cowboys this offseason, I don't see cornerback as nearly as much of a problem as others do. Mike Jenkins definitely had a bad year last year, and Terrance Newman dealt with injuries a lot, but I really look at the lack of a consistent pass rush and the atrocious play at safety as major reasons as to why these guys had down years. With some improvement on the defensive line and at safety, I have absolutely no problems with these two guys as the starting corners next year for the Cowboys.

However, if the Cowboys are able to pull off one of two moves this offseason, I think we could be talking about the best group of cornerbacks in the NFL.

Obviously everybody and their mother is going to be going after Nnamdi Asomugha this offseason, and so should the Cowboys. He is probably the only other guy in the league that shuts down an entire side of the football field as good, if not better, than Darrelle Revis. Jerry Jones should definitely be heavily involved in the battle to land him, especially if it means keeping him away from a team like the Eagles.

The other corner I feel like the Cowboys can't possibly pass up on if he is available is Patrick Peterson out of LSU. If he somehow (and I don't really believe this will happen, but who knows) drops to the Cowboys at the ninth spot in the draft, I think they have to take him. In my opinion, he is one of the best corners to come out of the draft in years, and he has to be taken if he is still on the board.

Defensive End
Right after safety and offensive tackle, this will be the most important position for the Cowboys to address this offseason. Right now, Stephen Bowen would be starting on the left side of the line. Now, while I don't think Bowen is horrible, this defense as a whole could improve vastly with a quality addition here.

As far as free agents go, there were two that I wanted the Cowboys to heavily pursue. But after the Raiders re-signed Richard Seymour yesterday, that number is now down to one. Just like Seymour, I expect Cullen Jenkins to be re-signed by the Packers, but if he is not, he would be a great fit on the Cowboys' line.

Alike the safety position, this is a position where the Cowboys need to fill multiple roster spots, so expect them to address it heavily in the draft as well. As of right now, many of the draft experts, as well as myself, think this will be the position the Cowboys select with the ninth overall pick. Cam Jordan out of Cal is right now considered the best 3-4 DE in the draft, and is expected to go in the top-10. He would be a great pick for the Cowboys, but thankfully for the team there are also a couple other guys who could play the position that are expected to go in the first 15 picks.

Linebacker
Now, notice how I didn't say OLB or ILB, and that's because I think the team needs to add depth at both spots. These positions are obviously not nearly as important as safety, defensive end, or offensive tackle, but the Cowboys should pick up one or two at each spot, either in the draft or in free agency. Anthony Spencer will hopefully continue to blossom into a great OLB, but it wouldn't hurt to have some more talented youth behind him and DeMarcus Ware. Also, Bradie James, Keith Brooking, and Sean Lee are pretty solid in the middle, but Brooking is getting very old very quick, so this could be a nice spot to look at later in the draft for the Cowboys.

Sometime soon, I will have out “The Offseason Needs: Offense and Special Teams”, but as you can see above, defense is definitely the side of the ball that the Cowboys need to take care of this offseason. I truly believe this team can be ready for a Super Bowl in the next year or two, but they have to get back to having a top defense for that to happen.

-- KELLEY BYDLON
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