I Feel Good

Yours Truly simply has to talk about the Dallas Cowboys, his favourite team.

After dissing them for years, he finds reasons to be optimistic this season.

Of course, they missed out on their top target in this year's draft, wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan from Arizona, who was drafted by the Carolina Panthers four spots before the Cowboys' turn. However, the Cowboys soon pivoted and took the best offensive lineman available, in Tyler Booker from Alabama. So far, Booker has been earning rave reviews from the team for his footballing and leadership capabilities. A very good sign indeed.

It is no secret that the Cowboys need talents in wide receivers and running backs. Somehow, they only drafted two running back in the later rounds, namely Jaydon Blue from Texas in Round 5, and Phil Mafah from Clemson in Round 7, and no wide receiver at all. At that time, Yours Truly did wonder why the Cowboys did nothing to address the issue.

But the Cowboys did sign two quality free agent running backs in Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders. And weeks later, they traded for George Pickens from the Steelers to form a formidable partnership with start receiver CeeDee Lamb.

Hopefully that will solve the problems.

They also have needs at linebackers and defensive backs. In previous seasons, the Cowboys basically did nothing in free agency and simply followed the next guy up principle, where they would plug holes with players already on their roster, to mixed reviews nevertheless. This year, the traded for former first-rounders Kenneth Murray (a linebacker) and Kaiir Elam (a defensive back), and also signed linebacker Jack Sanborn from the Chicago Bears. For some reason, Yours Truly feels extremely good about the Sanborn's signing, as he can be regarded as new defensive co-ordinator Matt Eberflus' favourite player while with the Bears, and he may be a pleasant surprise for years to come.

And do not forget the trade for backup quarterback Joe Milton from the Patriots, who showed flashes of brilliance in limited playing time late last season. He can be a more than capable backup for Dak Prescott.

On paper, the Cowboys look good, and their moves make sense to Yours Truly, at least for the moment.

He will still keep his fingers crossed though, and he knows very well that fans can be overly optimistic in the off-season.

But he does feel different this time around.