As the NFL Scouting Combine begins, it's obvious the Cowboys desperately need help on the defensive side in the upcoming draft.
The Cowboys should ignore the obvious. They should do exactly what they did last year: draft another big ol' boring offensive lineman.
Sure, the secondary is so full of holes it looks like someone took a shotgun to it. The defensive line, other than DeMarcus Ware, doesn't generate enough pressure to blow up a party balloon.
Drafting a hotshot cornerback or a bulldozing defensive end is exciting. Taking offensive linemen with your first pick is boring. Offensive linemen don't sack quarterbacks or cause turnovers.
You know what would be really exciting for the Cowboys? To have Tony Romo healthy for the final years of his career.
Romo will be 32 in April. He still has several prime years left, but he won't always be able to dodge and spin away from tacklers like he does now. Even now, he can't dodge all of them, as evidenced by the last two seasons.
In 2011, Romo played with broken ribs. He also had to play the final, win-or-go-home game against the Giants with a bruised and swollen throwing hand.
In 2010, Romo missed most of the season with a broken collarbone. A blitzer came through untouched and crunched Romo into the turf.
In 2008, Romo missed three games after breaking a finger on his throwing hand.
But in 2006, 2007 and 2009 Romo didn't miss a game because of injury. The result? He made the Pro Bowl in each of those years.
Romo also didn't miss a game in 2011 and had Pro Bowl-worthy numbers. Just imagine what he could have done if he had been healthy. Or at least, wasn't running for his life in most games.
The Cowboys took major steps to rebuild their offensive line last season, but the job isn't finished. They got rid of some aging veterans and got younger and more mobile.
They had the No. 9 overall pick in the draft last year, their highest pick in eight years. Picking that high, the showman in Jerry Jones was surely tempted to draft a playmaker, someone who would sell more SRO party passes in Cowboys Stadium.
Instead, the Cowboys made the un-sexy pick of tacking tackle Tyron Smith. Boring. But they won't have to worry about the tackle spot for the next 10-12 years.
After starting last season at right tackle, Smith will likely switch with Doug Free – another young lineman – and play his more natural position on the left side in 2012.
The interior of the offensive line is where the work is to be done. Phil Costa took over at center in 2012 and hasn't yet proven to be the long-term solution there. Kyle Kosier, a dependable veteran, provided some necessary glue at right guard, but the other guard spot was a problem area. Montrae Holland, cut in training camp, was brought back out of necessity to man the left guard spot.
Picking 14th overall, the Cowboys could select an interior lineman to give them the same kind of decade-long stability Smith will provide.
Stanford's David DeCastro is considered the best guard prospect in the draft (USC tackle Matt Kalil is the best overall O-lineman). If DeCastro is available at No. 14, the Cowboys need to grab him and not even think twice about it.
And if DeCastro isn't there, someone like Cordy Glenn of Georgia or Kevin Zeitler of Wisconsin should be available.
Investing another first-round pick in an offensive linemen might seem like overkill, but the NFL is still a game won in the trenches.
Sure, you need a quarterback who can make plays. Keeping your quarterback upright so he can make plays is the key. The Cowboys haven't been a playoff factor the last two seasons in part because they can't keep Romo healthy.
Drafting young, talented offensive linemen won't just help Romo, it will help his successor in a few years. Tyron Smith will be in mid-career whenever Romo passes the torch.
The Cowboys also discovered a game-changing running back last season in DeMarco Murray. Imagine how much better Murray would be with a Pro Bowl caliber line. In fact, don't imagine it – just look at old video of Emmitt Smith.
Defense also wins championships, of course. The holes that need to be plugged on that side can be done so with second and third round picks and free agency.
You can also find some rock-solid offensive linemen in the lower rounds and free agency. Yet that's not a position you want to risk your star quarterback and budding star running back's health on.
If DeCastro is there at No. 14, the Cowboys should make what, for them, would be a bold move: Be boring.
Follow Keith Whitmire on Twitter: @Keith_Whitmire
