Columnists: Todd Archer

Todd Archer

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IRVING - With free agency about to begin and the draft coming next month, the immediate needs for the Cowboys are apparent.

Much of the off-season talk has centered around the offensive line, and Jerry Jones said from the NFL Scouting Combine that he expects significant improvement with this unit in 2010. Safety is another big-time need, especially if the team decides to part with Ken Hamlin. Others have talked about wide receiver, too.

What are some of the not-so obvious needs the Cowboys have in 2010?

Bradie James and Keith Brooking played at a high level last year. They were Nos. 1 and 2 in tackles, according to the coaches' film. James had 181 total tackles. Brooking had 156. No other Cowboy reached 100 on the season.

Brooking is entering his 13th season. James is entering his eighth. Both are signed through 2011. Bobby Carpenter is in the last year of his deal. Jason Williams is entering his second year, but the Cowboys are unsure if he can make an impact. Stephen Hodge missed his rookie season with a knee injury.

This is not to say the Cowboys need to push their starters out of the way anytime soon. This is just being prudent when looking at the position and the value of the position.

Some of this is predicated on the future labor situation in the league. Should the cap return and the same free-agency rules, the Cowboys would be in a situation where Marcus Spears, Stephen Bowen and Jason Hatcher would be unrestricted free agents in 2011.

Spears is solid against the run but is viewed as a two-down player. Bowen is the best pass rusher of the three, and Hatcher came on strong at the end of last season. They don't want to lose any of them this year but might not have a say about it in the future.

For roster balance, the Cowboys need to look for help here. They still like Marcus Dixon's potential to a degree, but that should not stop them from drafting one if not two players. Part of the problem they face is the number of teams now using the 3-4 means fewer options.

We're not talking about the Daryl Johnston type of fullback. Those days are largely over with tight ends across the league seeing more time in the backfield. We're talking about the lead blocker and a lead blocker only in some ways.

Deon Anderson put his future with the Cowboys in doubt because of an arrest. He is the only fullback on the roster right now. The Cowboys like to use multi-tight end spots anyway, so finding a fullback wouldn't be high on the priority list, but it's still on the list.

This isn't so much a need as it is a philosophy.

Jerry Jones said quarterback is the only position he is ruling out in the first round. That's not a bad way of looking at it when you have Tony Romo entering what should be his prime and Jon Kitna still a viable backup.

But that doesn't mean the Cowboys should abandon the position altogether in the draft. They took Stephen McGee in the fourth round last year, the first quarterback they drafted since Quincy Carter in 2001 and only the second since 1991.

From 1992-99, Green Bay drafted a quarterback six times and was able to yield picks in return from Ty Detmer, Mark Brunell, Matt Hasselbeck or Aaron Brooks while still having Brett Favre as its quarterback.

It's a sound strategy because of how difficult it is to find a quarterback, which is what the Cowboys found out after Troy Aikman's retirement.