It may have been an extremely disappointing season for the Dallas Cowboys, but Jerry Jones' team does hold a lot of leverage this offseason. A 4-12 record doesn't paint a pretty picture, but "America's Team" does hold the No. 4 overall draft pick in the upcoming NFL draft.

The Cowboys are clearly better than 4-12, but injuries plagued their season all year long. This is a great opportunity to select a game changer early on. The Cowboys haven't done very well in the 21st century selecting in the first round, but it's hard to miss with the fourth overall pick. The Cowboys haven't had a selection this high in the draft since 1991, when they chose Russell Maryland No. 1.

So what should the Cowboys do with the No. 4 pick?

You could make a case they will have to draft a defensive end. Greg Hardy had a huge impact at the line of scrimmage despite missing four games, but many NFL fans think the Cowboys will let him walk because of distractions. Hardy ranked second on the team in total sacks behind only DeMarcus Lawrence. Lawrence benefited more than anyone on the team from Hardy playing. Last season Lawrence had zero sacks, but this year, with Hardy getting double teamed, Lawrence had a team-leading eight sacks. If the Cowboys let Hardy walk as a free agent, Jones has to get another pass rusher.

The Cowboys were a dismal 1-11 this year without Tony Romo, but don't count on them selecting a quarterback that early. More than likely Jones will search for a quality backup in free agency or via trade. If the Cleveland Browns release Johnny Manziel, he could find a new home in Arlington.

If the Cowboys do keep Hardy, it may be wise to invest in the secondary. The Cowboys don't have an outstanding secondary, but the NFC East is full of high passing attacks and good wide receivers. The Cowboys ranked 30th in interceptions forced this previous season. Maybe adding another cornerback or safety would be a wise idea.

Darren McFadden has another year left on his contract, and the Cowboys have a dominant offensive line, so it's unlikely they will draft a running back fourth overall. Staying on offense, the Cowboys could use a little improvement with wide receivers. There's no telling how healthy Dez Bryant is going to be next season, and others failed to step up in his place this year. Cole Beasley dropped a lot of passes, and Terrance Williams (who is in a contract year) also had a lot of drops. Still, it's unlikely the Cowboys will go with a wide out that early.

The safest decision may in fact be linebacker. Linebackers getting drafted have a very high success rate in the NFL when compared to other positions, and it's a position you can never have too much of. Sean Lee is a great linebacker who led the Cowboys in tackles this year, but injuries have sidelined him for a good portion of his career. He did play (sometimes hurt) in 14 games this season, but he missed all of last season with a torn ACL. Lee has missed 31 combined games the last three years.

If the Cowboys feel solid about their roster, they can always explore a trade. The No. 4 overall pick holds a lot of value, and you can bet there will be plenty of teams willing to give up numerous picks to get that selection.

Follow Damon Salvadore on Twitter @DamonSalvadore1

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