My focused area of interest - DT

[CCBoy]

One such candidate is Justin Rogers, a second-year candidate trying to make his way onto the 53-man roster in 2025. Rogers was a double-SEC guy, attending both Kentucky and Auburn. After being drafted in the seventh round, the Cowboys cut him loose at the end of training camp and he was picked up by Cincinnati as they formed their 2025 practice squad. At the end of last season, the Cowboys poached him from there, adding him to their active roster, but he never appeared in a game.

https://cowboyswire.usatoday.com/st...oys-player-profile-justin-rogers/83852297007/

Height: 6-foot-2

Weight: 346 pounds

Hometown: Detroit, MI

High School: Oak Park (Oak Park, MI)

College: Auburn University (Highlight Video)

Draft: 2024, Seventh-round pick No. 244

Acquired: 2024 NFL Draft

Contract: Three-year deal (2024), $2.8 million

Rogers is part of a collection of bottom-roster candidates trying to make an impression on new defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus and line coach Aaron Whitecotton. Once training camp rolls around, Rogers will look to compete with 2024 UDFA Denzel Daxon, and 2025 draft picks Jay Toia (sixth round) and Tommy AKingbesote (seventh round) for a spot in Dallas' interior rotation.

This is the group that this fan is going to watch grow. It is a group of 7th round developing tackles. They are the trash can full of dirt brigade. I'm watching. This group are tasked with planting themselves and resist all effort to move them.

They are men and are tasked to become immovable. Get strong as hell as well as mean to match.

They will fail out the gate and have set backs, but they will grow. They are Cowboys and do have pride to impress.

None these three are All Pro, but nothing says that they can't become one. I'm going to pay attention and notice directions and their own struggles to maximize stubborn and contribute.

I'm watching and rooting for this very group.

They will add to the Veterans:

Odighizuwa started 12 of 16 games as a rookie, and has started all 17 games in each of the last three seasons. He has 13.5 career sacks, including 4.5 in 2024 when he has 60 pressures, third-most of all defensive linemen. He'll be spelled this season by Solomon Thomas, a 2025 free-agent acquisition, and most likely flanked by Mazi Smith, their 2023 first-round pick out of Michigan.

 

[CCBoy]

In 2024, Odighizuwa delivered his most impactful performance to date, and it didn’t go unnoticed. He achieved career highs with five sacks, 47 total tackles, and 23 quarterback hits, showcasing his disruptive presence on the defensive line. His ability to pressure quarterbacks and halt running plays was instrumental in the Cowboys’ defensive strategies and only seemed to get better as the season wore on.

Odighizuwa’s partnership with fellow defensive stalwart Micah Parsons forms a formidable duo on the Cowboys’ front line. Their combined and consistent pressure disrupts offensive schemes and forces opposing quarterbacks into precarious situations, laying the foundation for a dominant defensive front. This synergy is expected to be a linchpin in the team’s strategy moving forward.

Odighizuwa has also emerged as a leader within the Cowboys’ locker room, further enhancing his importance to the team. His work ethic and commitment, which has been prevalent from the start, set a standard for younger players, fostering a culture of accountability and excellence. As the team navigates transitions and integrates new talent, his leadership will be crucial in maintaining cohesion and focus.

Outlook for 2025
With Odighizuwa’s continued development, leadership, and the stability provided by his contract extension, Cowboys fans have ample reason for optimism here. His presence fortifies the defensive line, and his influence resonates throughout the team. As the 2025 season approaches, Odighizuwa’s role will be pivotal in the Cowboys’ pursuit of victory. For a team that has historically undervalued the 3-tech position, Odighizuwa becomes an extremely valuable commodity going forward.

https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...-micah-parsons-sacks-pressures-defensvie-line

 

[big dog cowboy]

Until it's fixed, DT should be a major area of attention by the Cowboys. It's been their weakest position on defense for years. It's to early to say how much it got improved this offseason. We will find out soon enough. I just hope the Cowboys are prepared to add more talent at DT again next off season if needed.

 

[CCBoy]

Until it's fixed, DT should be a major area of attention by the Cowboys. It's been their weakest position on defense for years. It's to early to say how much it got improved this offseason. We will find out soon enough. I just hope the Cowboys are prepared to add more talent at DT again next off season if needed.

Direction has been set and has made movement to here. Not digressed.

 

[CCBoy]

Mix the tackles with the defensive ends now:
https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/depth-chart-cowboys-not-short-of-options-at-defensive-endMicah Parsons

• Dante Fowler
• Donovan Ezeiruaku
• Sam Williams
• Marshawn Kneeland
• Payton Turner
• Tyrus Wheat
• Luigi Vilain
• Earnest Brown IV

Battle to Watch: Who climbs to the top of the pecking order and will line up opposite Micah Parsons? Dante Fowler is coming off one of the best years of his career and is returning to a familiar situation, Sam Williams should be back and healthy with a chance to grow from his first two NFL seasons, and Donovan Ezeiruaku was one of the most polished pass rushers in the 2025 NFL Draft class. You can never have enough good pass rushers, so the Cowboys have a good problem on their hands with figuring out who lines up where, and who gets more snaps.

Time is Now: After tallying 8.5 sacks in his first two seasons after being picked in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft, Sam Williams is looking to return healthy and produce more after tearing his ACL and PCL before the start of the 2024 season. With the amount of recent investment of high draft capital and free agent additions at the position, the room is getting crowded, and Williams has a big season in front of him to prove himself as one of the better pass rushers on the roster.

Trait-Mark: With DeMarcus Lawrence off to Seattle, the Cowboys are in need of a defensive end that can set the edge and help stop the run, something Dallas has struggled with in recent years. Enter Marshawn Kneeland, who was drafted with a second-round pick in 2024 to come in and do just that. After a rookie season where he missed six games and at times struggled to make a noticeable impact, 2025 serves as the year for Kneeland to show what the Cowboys saw on tape at Western Michigan and help them bring ball carriers down.

Don't Forget About … The Cowboys added a plethora of former first round picks this offseason, one of them being Payton Turner, the New Orleans Saints' first round pick back in 2021. It's been tough sledding at times for Turner in his first four seasons as he's only produced five career sacks but is coming off his best professional season yet and has all the tools and a 6'6, 270-pound frame to continue to develop under Aaron Whitecotton and maybe show more flashes of what made him a first-round talent four seasons ago.

 

[Pass2Run]

I clicked on this thread and it's about football.

 

[CCBoy]

I clicked on this thread and it's about football.

I still don't support drugs or their use...lockup in the making.

 

[Cowboysheelsreds053]

Since the Rams PO game years ago, they still running.

 

[CCBoy]

Since the Rams PO game years ago, they still running.

I recall a long time ago and a passing attack. You?

 

[Ironicalicon]

I clicked on this thread and it's about football.

Delirium tremens? Nasty business.

 

[KJJ]

DT has been a huge issue for years. That position is one of the big reasons we’ve struggled so much against the run. We desperately need a War Daddy up front.

 

[Rockport]

DT has been a huge issue for years. That position is one of the big reasons we’ve struggled so much against the run. We desperately need a War Daddy up front.

Like yesterday.

 

[gtb1943]

I am burning incense and sacrificing goats that one of our DTs really gets it done.

Next step
VOODOO

 

[KJJ]

Like yesterday.

Hopefully we landed a diamond in the rough with one of the DT’s we just drafted.

 

[Irvin_truther]

We need mazi and Rogers to emerge

 

[shabazz]

I am burning incense and sacrificing goats that one of our DTs really gets it done.

Next step
VOODOO

Burn some for the LB Corp as well.....they need to make strides and they WILL be tested

 

[Rockport]

Hopefully we landed a diamond in the rough with one of the DT’s we just drafted.

The team is due to hit in that area so who knows.

 

[Blackrain]

We need to pirate DJ reader from Detroit somehow.
Jerry needs to get on this and get it done.
Geez since we got Pickins can't we give them one of these receivers we don't need like Mingo or how about one of our useless tight ends like spoon maker.

Trade them somebody and get us a legitimate run stopper it's the last piece to the puzzle

Kind of

 

[pitt33]

We need mazi and Rogers to emerge

Mazi ain’t emerging my friend.

I’m afraid that ship has sailed.

 

[Gambit]

We need to pirate DJ reader from Detroit somehow.
Jerry needs to get on this and get it done.
Geez since we got Pickins can't we give them one of these receivers we don't need like Mingo or how about one of our useless tight ends like spoon maker.

Trade them somebody and get us a legitimate run stopper it's the last piece to the puzzle

Kind of

You'd be better served waiting for either June 1 cuts or TC camp cut downs.

Detroit doesn't need Mingo or as you term him a useless TE.