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The Dallas Cowboys typically keep around 10 defensive linemen on their initial 53-man roster. The new defensive braintrust of Matt Eberflus and Aaron Whitecotton have consistently emphasized the importance of playing hard on every play and rotating to keep players fresh, so they will need a significant number of capable bodies.
While defensive tackle seems to once again be an abyss for difference makers outside of Osa Odighizuwa, the only concern about the edge is whether they will lose any of them to fill the roster at other positions. Edge rushers will be in abundance, as the team has four players who could start, plus a potential starter-level player in Sam Williams, and a former first-round pick in Payton Turner. Micah Parsons is a superstar and a game wrecker, and is among the top-tier defensive players in the league.
On the opposite side is returning veteran Dante Fowler Jr., who had a double-digit-sack season for the Washington Commanders, playing 564 snaps. In his two seasons in Dallas, he played in 613 snaps and had 10 sacks, 12 tackles for a loss, and 33 pressures. He is a perfect complement to Parsons. If a team helps towards Parsons, as they should, Fowler will feast in one-on-one situations, and if he plays over 400 snaps, he’ll be near double-digit sacks again.
The Cowboys have three high-potential, second-round picks who could develop into game changers at the position. Marshawn Kneeland was drafted to play similarly to how Demarcus Lawrence did for Dallas; set a great edge, but also be a threat to pressure the QB. He has shown an ability to wipe out any blocks set by non-offensive linemen. He routinely overwhelmed tight ends and running backs, pushing them right back into the pocket.
Dallas drafted Donovan Ezeiruaku, who was top six in pressures and sacks with a PFF grade of 90.4 in his final season at Boston College. He is a polished pass rusher with excellent bend, a great game plan and counters galore. With Parsons and Fowler Jr. out there for offenses to worry about, Ezeiruaku could be a fearsome rookie.
Williams could be the player who pushes the Cowboys to have the best pass rush in the NFL. As a rookie with under 300 snaps, he accumulated four sacks and 10 tackles for a loss. He played 303 snaps in 2023 and had similar pressure and sack numbers, but he didn’t take the developmental jump everyone hoped for. He was injured for the entire 2024 season, and with the additions of Kneeland and Ezeiruaku in the draft and Fowler Jr. in free agency, Williams became the forgotten man. If he breaks out in a contract year, offenses will be overwhelmed by the Dallas rush.
That group of five is locked in, leaving Turner, Tyrus Wheat, and Luiji Vilain to fight to make the roster. Turner is a former first-round pick who must prove he can stay healthy, but he has the potential to be a player like Lawrence or Kneeland. Wheat has played minimal defensive snaps for Dallas but has contributed to the special teams. Vilain has a seemingly insurmountable hill to climb to make this team.
You can find Mike Crum on Twitter @cdpiglet or Bluesky @mike-crum-cdpiglet.bsky.social
This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Edge rusher is clearly Cowboys' deepest position group entering camp
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While defensive tackle seems to once again be an abyss for difference makers outside of Osa Odighizuwa, the only concern about the edge is whether they will lose any of them to fill the roster at other positions. Edge rushers will be in abundance, as the team has four players who could start, plus a potential starter-level player in Sam Williams, and a former first-round pick in Payton Turner. Micah Parsons is a superstar and a game wrecker, and is among the top-tier defensive players in the league.
On the opposite side is returning veteran Dante Fowler Jr., who had a double-digit-sack season for the Washington Commanders, playing 564 snaps. In his two seasons in Dallas, he played in 613 snaps and had 10 sacks, 12 tackles for a loss, and 33 pressures. He is a perfect complement to Parsons. If a team helps towards Parsons, as they should, Fowler will feast in one-on-one situations, and if he plays over 400 snaps, he’ll be near double-digit sacks again.
The Cowboys have three high-potential, second-round picks who could develop into game changers at the position. Marshawn Kneeland was drafted to play similarly to how Demarcus Lawrence did for Dallas; set a great edge, but also be a threat to pressure the QB. He has shown an ability to wipe out any blocks set by non-offensive linemen. He routinely overwhelmed tight ends and running backs, pushing them right back into the pocket.
Dallas drafted Donovan Ezeiruaku, who was top six in pressures and sacks with a PFF grade of 90.4 in his final season at Boston College. He is a polished pass rusher with excellent bend, a great game plan and counters galore. With Parsons and Fowler Jr. out there for offenses to worry about, Ezeiruaku could be a fearsome rookie.
Williams could be the player who pushes the Cowboys to have the best pass rush in the NFL. As a rookie with under 300 snaps, he accumulated four sacks and 10 tackles for a loss. He played 303 snaps in 2023 and had similar pressure and sack numbers, but he didn’t take the developmental jump everyone hoped for. He was injured for the entire 2024 season, and with the additions of Kneeland and Ezeiruaku in the draft and Fowler Jr. in free agency, Williams became the forgotten man. If he breaks out in a contract year, offenses will be overwhelmed by the Dallas rush.
That group of five is locked in, leaving Turner, Tyrus Wheat, and Luiji Vilain to fight to make the roster. Turner is a former first-round pick who must prove he can stay healthy, but he has the potential to be a player like Lawrence or Kneeland. Wheat has played minimal defensive snaps for Dallas but has contributed to the special teams. Vilain has a seemingly insurmountable hill to climb to make this team.
You can find Mike Crum on Twitter @cdpiglet or Bluesky @mike-crum-cdpiglet.bsky.social
This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Edge rusher is clearly Cowboys' deepest position group entering camp
Continue reading...