(Editor's note: The content provided is based on the opinions and perspectives of the DallasCowboys.com editorial staff and not the opinions of the Cowboys football staff or organization.)
Frisco, Texas — Over the past few seasons, the Dallas Cowboys have seen the rise of talented defensive linemen, including inside the defensive line, a position the organization needs to focus its energy on in the offseason. No change.
2024 is a pivotal season, highlighted by a proving year for head coach Mike McCarthy and a change in defensive coordinator to upgrade the run defense and provide more consistency to opposing quarterbacks from inside. Now I can apply pressure. He will be the center of attention in Dallas.
Let's take a look at what they're up against as the offseason begins.
past: Not entirely dissimilar to the historic defensive end setup, the Cowboys have a list of memorable interior defensive linemen who also helped set the standard for what the position should be. . Aside from most flex players, some of the players who often focused on attacking opposing quarterbacks or rushing attacks include names like Randy “The Munster” White and Russell Maryland. included, and White will wear a gold jacket.
Maryland isn't immortalized in Canton, but that doesn't mean his resume with the Cowboys, which included three Super Bowl rings.
It's hard to live up to those expectations, especially if I were to throw in “Mr. Cowboy” Bob Lilley, who started his career as an edge rusher and moved inside for the rest of his career. . And then there's Jethro. Pugh and Jeremiah “Jay” Ratliff also left their mark on the organization.
For the Cowboys to return to the Super Bowl, they will need to compete against many of these teams.
the current: What the Cowboys' current defensive tackle lacks is legendary-level presence. However, I am not and will not be silent about what I see from Osa Odighizuwa. He's a player who has improved in each of his three NFL seasons, is arguably one of the best pass rushers from inside, and is a daily disruptor of opposing backfields.
Odighizuwa has seven sacks and 89 total tackles over the past two seasons, along with 24 quarterback hits and one forced fumble. The ceiling is extremely high for a three-tech (center right), and the depth at the back is not that bad.
Among them are promising young talents in Chauncey Golston and Neville Gallimore, the latter of whom returned to form after suffering a season-ending serious elbow injury in 2021 and is expected to hit the ground running in 2024. (he simply wasn't the same in 2022 after that devastating injury).
Gallimore was active in every game last season, making it a nod to his return to durability.
But what about the 1-tech (nose tackle) situation?
Jonathan Hankins was an instant savior at the run defense position when he was acquired just before the 2022 NFL trade deadline and subsequently earned a one-year contract extension. He took full advantage of a strong offseason program under Aden Dahde and Dan Quinn and parlayed it into an even more productive 2023, becoming a proven passer with two sacks against the Commanders on Thanksgiving. He also showed the ability to rush.
However, one of the reasons the Cowboys opted to re-appoint Hankins for one year was to give them the opportunity to draft a worthy successor, and they ultimately made the move with a first-round pick last April. -I agreed with Smith.
Smith has shown flashes once or twice since then, but he had a forgettable rookie season and will need to put that behind him and focus on making his second year a season to show what he's capable of. . As it stands, the current honest assessment (as of February) is that Smith will take the mantle from Hankins before going through another offseason program and training camp to determine his usage under a new defensive coordinator. It means he's not ready to take over.
Is it possible that the situation will change by September? That's true, but that's a future situation, not a current situation. But let's discuss just that here: the future.
future: First of all, it's important to know that the Cowboys currently don't have a defensive tackle on a futures contract, so no development is expected there. Things can and will likely change as free agency and the draft change, but for now, the future depends on the players already under contract.
However, not everyone is like that.
Gallimore will not sign a new contract and, along with Hankins, will become an unrestricted free agent in March. Adding to the concern here is that both Odighizuwa and Gholston have contract years in 2024, and as mentioned earlier, it will take a long time for Smith to be fully released and start impacting NFL games. It means that growth is necessary.
In my opinion, the solution here is to re-sign Hankins and Gallimore, neither of whom are expected to command high prices, but at the same time reconsider the position in the 2024 NFL Draft. Additionally, they will add talented veteran depth in free agency.
I'm interested to see if Viliami “Junior” Fehoko will be tested further at the 3-tech in the future under a new coordinator. This is because I think there are possibilities that have not yet been developed.
Honestly, no matter what, there's no way the draft will go through without adding a defensive lineman or two to the roster. This ensures continued competition for young players to step up to get reps, and a deeper pool to push up veterans or replace them entirely if productivity isn't up to par. is provided.
There's a lot of work to be done inside Dallas' defensive line, but thankfully most of it (most, if not all) is contractual.
