Dallas Cowboys: 5 players who must improve

4. Jaylon Smith

The Cowboys took a big risk with Jaylon Smith in the 2016 draft. Using a high second-round selection on a player that was effectively redshirting for a season is a tough pill to swallow. Nevertheless the team was betting on Smith’s insane talent to return to form when he did finally get healthy. His knee injury looked to be an extremely long recovery.

By the end of 2017 it looked like the elite player was almost back to the player that some had as the best in the entire 2016 class coming out of Notre Dame.

As a Cowboy, Smith has been inconsistent. His physical makeup and talent look to be a perfect compliment to the teams’ best defensive player Sean Lee. Smith brings size and speed to the position. As he gets healthy, if those get back to the level they once were he will continue to improve. Dallas needs that to happen in 2018 for this defense to be a success.

Smith is also a multi-dimensional linebacker. He will likely start at the strong side after playing both there and middle in 2017. From that spot he will be able to attack the line of scrimmage, his biggest strength, while not being forced to cover in space as much. One area that he can continue to excel at is rushing the passer. Notre Dame would constantly let him attack off the edge and he’s proven that as a blitzer he knows how to get to the quarterback.

With Lee and first-round pick Leighton Vander Esch alongside Smith, the Dallas linebackers are as talented as they have been in quite some time. Vander Esch and Lee will handle the coverage duties and allow Smith to play to his strengths more. If his improvements continue to trend upwards it will be good news for this defense and team as a whole.