Cowboys' free agency haul lets them 'draft pure' says HC Schottenheimer

Speaking at the University of Texas pro day on Tuesday, Schottenheimer struck a confident tone about where the Cowboys stand heading into April.

"I think we did a really good job of setting ourselves up to be able to draft natural and draft pure, which is what you want to do," he said. "You don't want to have to be forced to reach for a player; that's when you make mistakes."

Greg Fiume / Stringer

That point resonates because teams that arrive at the draft with gaping holes on the roster tend to make bad decisions - spending an earlier selection than they might otherwise on players who fit a need rather than selecting the best available talent.

Dallas, Schottenheimer believes, is not in that position.

What the Cowboys did in free agency

Offensively, Dallas made sure to keep George Pickens via the franchise tag, brought back Javonte Williams, and added some depth up front along the offensive line.

Stacy Revere / Staff

The bigger changes came on defense. The trade for edge rusher Rashan Gary was arguably the headline move, with Cobie Durant, Jalen Thompson and PJ Locke all added to strengthen the secondary.

There is more to be done, and Schottenheimer acknowledged as much, but he's pleased with the progress so far.

"We've added some really good pieces, we've got some good depth," he said. "There's still a few positions that we need to address, that's all part of the process.

"Like I say all the time, not my line, I think it's Stephen [Jones] or Jerry [Jones], but [player acquisition] is 24/7, 365, and it never stops. We're never stopping to look; we're always open for business."

While Schottenheimer leaves roster additions to the front office, he’s made it clear he wants a say across all three phases of the team.

The Cowboys' defense is still the priority

Dallas ranked among the worst defensive units in the NFL last season. Fixing that is the headline task of this entire rebuilding process, and Schottenheimer made clear that new defensive coordinator Christian Parker knows exactly what he is looking for.

"I think he knows exactly what he's looking for," Schottenheimer said. "I think that's very evident, that has been evident from the time we sat down at the start of the interview process.

"The vision is very clear, and I love that. The way he sees football, the way I see football is very similar."

Christian Petersen / Staff

With Gary now alongside mid-season arrival and four-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, plus a full, healthy offseason for linebacker DeMarvion Overshown, there’s a real case for Schottenheimer, Parker and Co. helping Dallas find its teeth again on defense.

Two first-round picks, a shared vision between head coach and defensive coordinator, and the stated ability to take the best player available rather than the most convenient one also stand Dallas in good stead.

For a Cowboys team that has underperformed for several years, that is at least the right starting point.