The NFL draft will take place later this month. In this series, dallas cowboys He's at every position as the team prepares to make a selection in Detroit. Number 6 is the defensive end.
This is a position of strength for the Cowboys. They have versatile defensive end/linebacker Micah Parsons, another starter in veteran DeMarcus Lawrence, and up-and-comer Sam Williams. The Cowboys lost Dorance Armstrong and Dante Fowler to free agency and will need to draft replacements to replace them, possibly including 2023 fourth-round pick Viliami Fehoko.
players on the roster
Viliami Fehoko Jr.: He was inactive for most of the 2023 season, but now with two veterans gone, he gets a chance to prove he can be a contributor.
Chauncey Gholston: The club likes Golston's versatility, as he can play both off-edge and inside. The club is weak at defensive tackles, so expect him to play both roles again. However, we would like to increase production even more.
DeMarcus Lawrence: Not only is he entering his 11th year at the club, but he is also entering a contract year. He'll be 32 when the season starts, and this could be it for him. or not. Lawrence is a valuable member of this team.
Tyrus Wheat: The undrafted free agent out of Mississippi State played in 12 regular-season games last season but had little impact. With the new kickoff rule, he could have a bigger impact on special teams in 2024.
Sam Williams: Williams, a 2022 second-round pick, has a lot of potential. He has enough athleticism to make plays and is mature in the mental part of the game.
Micah Parsons: The most defensive player on the team. It will be interesting to see how new defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer uses Parsons compared to Dan Quinn.
Also listed in the list: Darrell Johnson.
Strengths
Well, that's Micah Parsons. He had 40 and a half sacks in three seasons in the NFL and was named All-Pro twice. He is a prominent figure in almost all lore. DeMarcus Lawrence has 10 sacks over the past two seasons and is a two-time Pro Bowl selection. He is also a threat on passing downs and continues to provide leadership in the locker room.
Weakness
Dan Quinn often used four or five defensive ends. With the departures of Dorance Armstrong and Dante Fowler in free agency, it will be difficult to find replacements. Sam Williams will be first in line to take more snaps, and Viliami Fehoko Jr. will have room to do something. Williams' problem is his unscrupulous penalties on special teams on defense. That has to stop for coaches to trust him more.
3 draft targets
Darius Robinson, Missouri: He was one of the Cowboys' 30 visits to The Star. He's a first-round pick, so it's unclear if the Cowboys will have him when they pick No. 24. But if he's there, we'd better get him.
Bralen Trice, Washington: The 6-3 1/2, 242-pound edge rusher is a Day 2 pick. He was named first team All-Pac-12 and had 11 1/2 tackles for loss and seven sacks. He brings great depth to a unit that needs it.
Adisa Isaac, Pennsylvania: Why not buy another Penn State pass rusher that worked with Parsons? Isaac (6-4, 247 pounds) has played well the past two seasons after tearing his Achilles tendon in 2021.
Cowboys Draft Needs Series
— quarterback
— running back
— tight end
— Offensive line
— wide receiver
— Details coming soon…
twitter: @Calvin Watkins
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