BTB: EZ expected to make a huge 2026 leap

[Hawkeye0202]

Good article... notice, as a reminder, why he was drafted (to take pressure off Parsons).

I truly think he has a chance to be our best defensive player.........




https://cowboyswire.usatoday.com/st...ueanthem&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter

 

[DuncanIso]

He’s a gifted DE.

• ESPN NFL All-Rookie Second Team (2025)
• Ted Hendricks Award (2024)
• Consensus All-American (2024)
• ACC Defensive Player of the Year(2024)
• First-team All-ACC (2024)

More

Score Breakdown​

Score Breakdown

Production Score​

87
2025 Combine DE/EDGE Rank: 2nd

Athleticism Score *est​

84
2025 Combine DE/EDGE Rank: 6th

Total Score​

83
2025 Combine DE/EDGE Rank: 2nd

 

[big dog cowboy]

VERY high hope of Eze this year.

Main thing people need to remember is Ezeiruaku played much of the season with a torn hip labrum. All fixed now.

 

[DuncanIso]

Gary isn’t bad

Awards and highlights
Career NFL statistics as of 2025
Green Bay Packers (2019–2025) Dallas Cowboys (2026–present)
Pro Bowl (2024) 2× First-team All-Big Ten (2017, 2018)
Total tackles 271 Sacks 46.5 Forced fumbles 7 Fumble recoveries 8 Pass deflections 6

 

[DuncanIso]

VERY high hope of Eze this year.

Maing thing people need to remember is Ezeiruaku played much of the season with a torn hip labrum. All fixed now.

That had to be painful.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

He’s a gifted DE.

• ESPN NFL All-Rookie Second Team (2025)
• Ted Hendricks Award (2024)
• Consensus All-American (2024)
• ACC Defensive Player of the Year(2024)
• First-team All-ACC (2024)

More

Score Breakdown​

Score Breakdown

Production Score​

87
2025 Combine DE/EDGE Rank: 2nd

Athleticism Score *est​

84
2025 Combine DE/EDGE Rank: 6th

Total Score​

83
2025 Combine DE/EDGE Rank: 2nd

100%.......love that he was one of our strongest run defenders. It wasn't expected to be his strength when drafted. Now add his college strength as a pass rusher with his rookie year as a run defender........is why I am super excited about his future.

 

[blueblood70]

VERY high hope of Eze this year.

Maing thing people need to remember is Ezeiruaku played much of the season with a torn hip labrum. All fixed now.

I don't think that's what held them back he got a lot of pressures didn't finish it was more the defensive scheme Guys were open at the snap there was no coverage no resistance the back end was horrible so together it was a terrible defense a terrible scheme bunch of backups in backups to backups Kinda hard to judge anyone from last year really..

Yes I expect Revel and Eze to take a step this year, I think they're gonna be a lot better than people believe.. I can't guarantee it's gonna happen but I just think they were being poorly judged on what was just a historically bad defense full of injuries and bad schemes and bad game plans..

 

[CT Dal Fan]

Those who call EZ's rookie season a disappointment clearly didn't watch him at all and/or scouted him from a stat sheet.

 

[kumizi]

Is he in the best shape of his life?

 

[DoctorChicken]

I don’t know why some would call his rookie season a disappointment.

I wish he got more sacks, but he was close on a few, generated pressure and was really good in the run game.

Rookie DEs don’t usually light it up.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

Those who call EZ's rookie season a disappointment clearly didn't watch him at all and/or scouted him from a stat sheet.

They put all those sack totals on him like 6-10…kind of what James Pearce did. Didn’t sniff that. But for me I was more scared about his rush defense and he proved to either get better or be better than expected. He has enough pass rush moves for me to be optimistic the sacks will come. I expect the 6-10 range this year. I need him to continue to be solid against the run.

 

[CT Dal Fan]

They put all those sack totals on him like 6-10…kind of what James Pearce did. Didn’t sniff that. But for me I was more scared about his rush defense and he proved to either get better or be better than expected. He has enough pass rush moves for me to be optimistic the sacks will come. I expect the 6-10 range this year. I need him to continue to be solid against the run.

His pressure rate was excellent all season until it tailed off at the end (probably due to the hip issue getting worse). With some added power he will get home to the QB more often.

 

[gimmesix]

Good article... notice, as a reminder, why he was drafted (to take pressure off Parsons).

I truly think he has a chance to be our best defensive player.........




https://cowboyswire.usatoday.com/st...ueanthem&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter

Hopefully, he can take the next step and start getting home more often. I would expect Quinnen to be our best player, though. We definitely need some pressure players to show up.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

Those who call EZ's rookie season a disappointment clearly didn't watch him at all and/or scouted him from a stat sheet.

100%

 

[slick325]

Hoping Ezeiruaku makes a huge leap this season. This defense desperately needs a pass rush with juice.

 

[blueblood70]

Hoping Ezeiruaku makes a huge leap this season. This defense desperately needs a pass rush with juice.

You know a lot was said about Tank when he first came in couldn't stay healthy couldn't get any sacks Pretty good at stopping the run Was a tough dude but couldn't count on him for pressure but he built on that every year became really a really good starter on the other side of some of the better pass rushers..

 

[Coogiguy03]

He was better against the run, usually it's the other way around good pass rusher, can't stop the run!!! Time to put it all together

 

[Hawkeye0202]

Hopefully, he can take the next step and start getting home more often. I would expect Quinnen to be our best player, though. We definitely need some pressure players to show up.

I'm expecting a min double sacks from him.........

 

[beware_d-ware]

EZ showed some game his rookie year... box score watchers will be disappointed by his 2 sacks, but he had 9 TFLs.

Usually, guys that beat tackles and make plays behind the LOS don't stop doing it, and rookies who start beating tackles only get better at doing it.

 

[gimmesix]

I'm expecting a min double sacks from him.........

I expect 6 to 10. Considering that he had two as a rookie, I think that's more reasonable. Would love for him to explode, though.