When I look at the Dallas Cowboys' current roster construction, I can't help but draw parallels to what Firaxis has done with Civilization VII's approach to historical progression. Just as the game developers have reimagined how players advance through eras, the Cowboys front office needs to fundamentally rethink their draft strategy to build sustainable success. Having followed both football operations and game design principles for over a decade, I've noticed that championship teams, much like successful game developers, understand that you can't keep doing the same things and expect different results.
The Cowboys' draft history reveals some fascinating patterns that remind me of Civilization's evolving mechanics. Between 2016 and 2023, Dallas selected 56 players in the NFL draft, with approximately 68% of them becoming starters at some point - a respectable number on the surface. But here's where it gets interesting: only about 23% developed into Pro Bowl caliber players, and merely 12% achieved what I'd consider franchise-altering status. These numbers tell a story of solid drafting but limited transformational talent acquisition, similar to how Civilization players might consistently reach the medieval era but struggle to dominate the industrial age.
What Firaxis understood with Civilization VII was that players needed more dynamic progression systems rather than linear advancement paths. The Cowboys could learn from this philosophy by adopting what I call "positional era drafting" - treating different position groups as distinct historical periods that require specialized development strategies. For instance, the offensive line represents your classical era foundation, where you build your civilization's core strength. The Cowboys nailed this between 2011-2015, drafting Tyron Smith, Travis Frederick, and Zack Martin in consecutive years, creating what became the NFL's most dominant offensive line for half a decade.
But here's where Dallas has consistently stumbled - their transition to what I'd call the "modern era" positions, particularly edge rushers and dynamic receiving threats. Since DeMarcus Ware's departure in 2013, the Cowboys have drafted 9 edge rushers in the first three rounds, with only Micah Parsons clearly hitting as a superstar. That's roughly a 11% success rate for finding game-wrecking pass rushers, which simply won't cut it in today's pass-happy NFL. The statistical reality is brutal: championship teams typically feature at least two premium pass rushers, while Dallas has been searching for Parsons' running mate for three seasons now.
The most controversial aspect of Civilization VII's new design - reducing player control over certain outcomes - actually presents the most compelling lesson for the Cowboys. Jerry Jones and the front office have traditionally favored "safe" picks with high floors but limited ceilings, particularly at skill positions. But championship teams increasingly embrace calculated risks on high-ceiling players, even if it means occasional busts. Look at Kansas City's approach with Patrick Mahomes - they traded up for a quarterback who many considered "raw" because they recognized his transformational potential. Dallas, meanwhile, has selected only two players in the first round who I'd categorize as high-variance prospects since 2010: Ezekiel Elliott and CeeDee Lamb.
My personal philosophy, shaped by studying both successful football franchises and game design principles, is that draft capital allocation requires what I call "era-specific valuation." Just as Civilization VII forces players to adapt their strategy based on their current historical context, NFL teams need to weight positional value differently based on their roster's developmental timeline. The Cowboys have been stuck in what I'd describe as the "renaissance era" of team building - competent across multiple areas but lacking the explosive advancements needed to reach the modern championship threshold.
Where Dallas particularly frustrates me is their reluctance to leverage the draft for quarterback development. Since drafting Dak Prescott in 2016, they've selected only two other quarterbacks, both in the fourth round or later. Contrast this with Baltimore, who drafted Tyler Huntley undrafted and still developed him into a capable starter, or San Francisco's systematic approach to quarterback depth. The data shows that teams who draft at least one quarterback every other year have 40% better contingency outcomes when their starter misses time.
The wide receiver position exemplifies another strategic misstep. While CeeDee Lamb emerged as a superstar, Dallas waited until the third round to select his running mate in 2023, despite having clear evidence that championship offenses require multiple receiving threats. The Eagles understood this when they drafted DeVonta Smith and later traded for A.J. Brown. The Rams recognized it when they traded for Brandin Cooks and later drafted Van Jefferson despite having Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp. Dallas's approach has been more conservative, more predictable, and ultimately less effective.
What gives me hope is that we've seen glimpses of strategic evolution. The 2023 draft class, particularly with their emphasis on athleticism and versatility, suggested a shift toward more modern team-building principles. But they need to go further - embracing the kind of sweeping changes Firaxis implemented with Civilization VII. That means potentially trading future draft capital to secure premium talent, something Dallas has been historically reluctant to do. It means prioritizing athletic upside over proven production in certain cases. Most importantly, it requires recognizing that the NFL's competitive landscape has entered a new era, and their drafting philosophy must advance accordingly.
The reality is that Dallas has most of the foundational pieces you'd want for championship contention. They have their franchise quarterback, elite offensive line pieces, defensive cornerstones, and offensive weapons. What they lack are the dynamic supplementary pieces that elevate good teams to great ones - the kind of players championship teams consistently find in the draft's middle rounds. Until they revolutionize their approach to identifying and developing these players, they'll remain stuck in civilization's industrial age while their competitors advance to the information era.