Cowboys mailbag: Questions on the bye week, offensive line, and best Cowboys player

Every week, we take questions on X (Twitter) and Facebook about Dallas Cowboys players and other issues surrounding the team. So let’s get right into it.

“Coming off that horrendous home loss to Detroit, how grateful are the Cowboys that now is their bye week?”
(@MrEd315 on Twitter)
Mike: Well, at least they can’t lose this week. The bye week for this coaching staff needs to be a moment of serious reflection and to figure out what steps they need to take to get the wheels back on track for this season. The front office proclaimed there will be no trades coming to help bolster the this roster. So the only thing left to do as fans is hold on tight get ready for the ride. For some optimism, the Cowboys will face the San Francisco 49ers who are facing their personal struggles. They will face the Kansas City Chiefs this weekend so the hope is the Chiefs will play hard against them and demoralize the 49ers team enough that it softens them up for the following against Dallas.

Dana: One of the biggest benefits to having the bye week this week, is it gives time for the injured players to heal up. And the Cowboys are going to need to get back as many players as they can to make the game competitive against the 49ers next week. Guys like DaRon Bland, Caelen Carson, Tyler Guyton, Eric Kendricks, Nick Vigil, and Micah Parsons all have a chance to play in Week 8. The 49ers have a long list of players on their injury report as well. So, one advantage that the Cowboys have over the 49ers is that they don’t have to play the Chiefs this week, the 49ers do.

“How do we revamp this O-line for next season, maybe keeping Zack Martin. Every team knows we can’t run the ball.”
(@Jörgen Veisland on Facebook)
Mike: By the way Martin is playing it looks more likely retirement is coming. There’s a physiological phenomenon where whenever someone talks about retirement, mentally they have already retired. It’s possible this is the case with Martin. As for how to fix the problem with the offensive line, well that’s not something that can be done overnight. An offensive line is only as good as it’s weakest link and there are a couple of links that need addressing. That will mean using draft picks next year or trading for productive linemen (which is unlikely). Or there’s a chance a veteran lineman worth the time enters the free market next year and Dallas manages to snag one (also unlikely).

Dana: Next season, Cooper Beebe and Tyler Guyton will have a season under their belt and I expect both to be improved over this year. The main concern for next season is at RG and RT. Even if Zack Martin chooses not to retire, it might be worth looking for a replacement to start to develop behind him. Next to him RT Terrance Steele just hasn’t been able to get back to the level he was at before his injury a few seasons ago. It may be worth looking for new options there as well.

“Who is the best player on the roster right now?”
(@Steven Sierra on Facebook)
Mike: Well this questions is wildly loaded and about to create arguments in the comments section. The star players all remain the same, Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, Micah Parsons and Trevon Diggs are the first names that spring to mind. To pick from those names is tough as Parsons seems the obvious choice but he’s missed time with injury. Zack Martin has potential at this late stage of his career as fans have seen what he’s capable of time and time again. But let’s also not forget Brandon Aubrey who remains a solid and reliable piece of this team and leads the league in nearly every kicking category. The way to do this is simply this- Parsons is the best player overall but injured, active on the roster currently it’s CeeDee Lamb.

Dana: In 2024, after six games, and only judging off of these performances, Brandon Aubrey is the Dallas Cowboys’ best player hands down. No one has been as reliable or consistent as the Cowboys’ kicker. He has made field goals from +50 yards in seven consecutive games, the first kicker in the NFL to do so. And after Week 6, he was tied for first in the entire NFL for most points scored. Unfortunately as of this moment, no one on the team is performing better than “Butter”.