Did the Cowboys Do Enough to Address Their Biggest Weakness This Off-Season?
The Cowboys had a disappointing 2024 season, where they struggled with injuries and even failed to perform at a high level when their starters were on the field. Teams were able to run the ball all over the Dallas defense, especially up the middle. The Cowboys ranked near the bottom of the league in every run defense metric. They were fourth in the NFL in most rushing yards allowed per game with 137.1. They also gave up 25 rushing touchdowns, which led the entire NFL. The Cowboys entered the offseason with a variety of needs, but they may have neglected their biggest one.
Many believe the Cowboys’ issues with run defense were more of a schematic deficiency rather than a personnel problem, but if you take a broader look, it seems to be a combination of both. Mazi Smith has not reached his potential as a first-round pick. He is not explosive as a pass rusher and doesn’t defend the run well for his size. He is often pushed off the line of scrimmage, and it’s easy for interior offensive linemen to reach the second level. The Cowboys should have looked for a proven nose tackle to compete for playing time. Osa Odighizuwa is one of the league’s best pass-rushing defensive tackles, but does not provide much as a run stuffer. Solomon Thomas and Jay Toia offer decent depth, but opponents will certainly look to exploit the interior of the Cowboys’ run defense.
Dallas is also entering next season with question marks around their linebacker room. Their best linebacker, DeMarvion Overshown, will not be ready at the start of the season. Kenneth Murray has yet to show starting-caliber ability this far into his career, despite being a former first-round pick, and Marist Liufau is unproven. Jack Sanborn is an underrated player who could work his way into the starting rotation. Dallas made several additions at EDGE to pair with Micah Parsons, including the signing of Dante Fowler and the selection of Donovan Ezeiruaku, which could help alleviate some pressure off the interior of the defensive line. However, this may also lead teams to continue attacking the middle and avoiding outside runs.
Overall, Dallas has a strong secondary, a great pass-rushing rotation, and good linebacker depth when healthy. The organization has faith in their young players. Perhaps a new defensive scheme with the addition of Matt Eberflus as defensive coordinator can improve production. However, they will need their current defensive line depth to take a major leap in 2025 if they want to be a competitive unit next season.
