Frisco, Texas — There's no other way to put it, and since the Dallas Cowboys have seen NFL free agents take a meteoric hit to their normally stout defensive line, we're putting it in the current glaring We shouldn't try to downplay it as a problem.
The news that Neville Gallimore has signed with the Miami Dolphins coincides with Jonathan Hankins' decision this week to reunite with former Cowboys defensive line coach turned Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator. made it even worse.
Dorrance Armstrong and Dante Fowler initially, and soon after, chose to follow former Cowboys defensive coordinator turned Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn – their impact The pass rusher (and Armstrong is also a key run stopper and special ace on the team) has been plucked off Dallas' depth chart relatively easily.
Needless to say, Hankins' impact on the run defense was so coveted that Hankins was traded for 2022 and re-signed last offseason, while Gallimore has returned to form as a rotational talent on the inside of the defensive line and has We brought in players. Good luck with the movies in 2023.
Additionally, Gallimore showed great promise as a rookie third-round pick in 2020, but suffered a serious elbow injury in 2021 and struggled to bounce back from that in 2022. I'm not playing like I was before the injury., He will finally return to his original self in 2023. That led to him making the final roster in August and having a strong season that rivaled his first.
This will be Gallimore's first free agency in his young career, and his resurgence last season was reason enough for teams to be interested in him in 2024 and beyond.
And now, to ensure that Osa Odighizuwa's dynamic play is not only in the middle of the defensive line, the unproven talent who will and must take a big leap next season A young man is attracting attention. And in Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence, they have backups who can step in and prevent a significant drop in production if they need rest or if the injury bug bites.
It remains to be seen whether the unit will have any additions in free agency or the 2024 NFL Draft, but the demands on players like Maggismith, Chauncey Golston, Sam Williams, Jr. will remain the same. Fehoko, as well as players on the edges of the roster like Darrell Johnson and Carl Davis, will likely struggle to maintain their spots on the roster throughout the summer.
Smith, the team's first-round pick in 2023, has the talent and strength to be a dominant force at nose tackle, but his loss in weight and slow start-up as a rookie have hindered his performance. The following will be of paramount importance: Smith, without Hankins, will execute a 180-degree turn under the guidance of Mike Zimmer. The run defense pretty much relies on that, with Gholston supporting Smith and Odighizuwa as both run defenders and pass rushers from inside.
Golston is in a contract year, which should give him extra motivation to perform, but there are many signs that the 26-year-old will be given a lot of opportunities, and he could compete with the departed veterans. He has shown on multiple occasions that he is no less a promising player. .
It will be a steeper hill for Fehoko to climb than Gholston considering Fehoko didn't earn anything as a rookie last season, but that won't be the case in his second year. , Fehoko has an unstoppable motor and simply needs to hone his technique, but it will be interesting to see if Zimmer sees him as a 3-tech (right of center) or edge support.
And then there's Sam Williams, whose path to more reps is clear with Fowler's departure. Williams' talent is as unique as it is offensive. He has proven to be more than capable of stopping the run, rushing the passer, and wreaking havoc on special teams, but needs to find a balance between aggressiveness and untimely penalties. there will be.
There's a lot to sort out here for the Cowboys this summer and heading into the 2024 season. Because for the first time in a while, their defensive line is thin until proven to be thin.
