Expectations for the Dallas Cowboys are always sky-high, and the 2022 season won't be any different. The Cowboys dominated the NFC East all throughout 2021, but lost their first playoff game, a matchup against the San Francisco 49ers.

This offseason is a huge opportunity to turn a playoff-caliber roster into a legitimate Super Bowl team. Championship windows don't last forever, so expect the Cowboys' front office and owner Jerry Jones to do everything they can to push this team to the next level in 2022.

Here are three moves the Cowboys must make during the 2022 NFL offseason.

Moves Cowboys must make this offseason

3. Retain Connor Williams and Jayron Kearse

Neither of these players are stars, but they're key role players in Dallas. Williams has started in every season for the Cowboys since being drafted, providing admittedly average play for much of that stretch. However, offensive linemen are nearly impossible to find in free agency and the draft, so re-signing a guy like Williams is a good idea. Dallas already struggles with depth along the offensive line, and losing Williams would just make that worse.

Kearse is another guy who didn't give the Cowboys top-level play in 2022. He notched 101 tackles and two picks on the year as a decent starter for defensive coordinator Dan Quinn. Re-signing him would be for depth purposes, as fellow safeties Damontae Kazee and Malik Hooker will hit the open market this offseason. If Kearse also walks, Dallas will have a hard time finding a starting-caliber safety to play next to Donovan Wilson.

2. Cut Anthony Brown

Dallas will likely have to go through a series of cuts to begin this offseason. They're in one of the worst cap situations in the league, with only the Green Bay Packers and New Orleans Saints having less cap space. The front office will have to make some tough decisions, and those decisions should start with Brown.

He's taking up nearly $7 million of cap space and is providing mediocre play in return. The Cowboys drafted two cornerbacks in 2021, so it's time to let Brown go and give either Kelvin Joseph or Nahshon Wright a starting shot. Dallas also has starting corner Jourdan Lewis on roster, giving them the depth necessary to let Brown go. It's hard to find reasons to keep Brown on the roster given the bevy of cheaper (and likely better) options available on the roster.

1. Draft an edge rusher in Round 1

Dallas has shown a penchant for making big moves in the draft, but that probably won't be necessary in this one. There are plenty of great defensive end prospects the Cowboys could snag with the 24th overall pick. Florida State's Jermaine Johnson and Michigan's David Ojabo both stand out as potential starters who should be available when Dallas is on the clock.

This pick becomes even more important when we look at the Cowboys' depth at defensive end heading into 2022. Randy Gregory is a free agent who Dallas should let walk, leaving Dorance Armstrong as the starter opposite of DeMarcus Lawrence. Armstrong is a decent player, but his best role is as a rotational pass rusher. With their cap-space struggles, it's extremely unlikely that the Cowboys will find a starter at defensive end in free agency. Their best chance to upgrade this key position is by using their first-round pick.