How to fix their anemic pass rush?

[Bigrandrn]

New name to consider, Khalil Mack.

Chargers are done and the Cowboys can afford him. Has 3 sacks this season and is a proven pass rusher despite his age. As a rental for 12-13 games or so he’d be a great addition.

Man, he’s getting up there, don’t know if he can really give us what we need, vs being another Von Miller signing.

 

[Bigrandrn]

idk about needing more interior rushers. We need to run more plays that take advantage of Quinnen being able to rush the QB. Hes one the best 3techs in the league and he should be let lose on interior Olines.

Yeah, Q SHOULD be enough inside with Clark or Otito (get the rook LT in there too)….we have next to zero rush around the edge. All I see is the ends/lob running right into the tackle, nobody has pass rush moves or burst to get AROUND the tackles…at least not the players I’ve watched. Bet Barham would do better getting around the tackles than EZ, just looks like he really tries to get into the backfield.

 

[LouBrown]

Yeah, you can run stunts to try to free him up!

Not really. Doesn't change the fact that he's getting the OL attention

 

[Gambit]

Sweat is almost the ideal mid grade player for this defense.

Sweat has at least played in similar system.

Its rumored the as is 2027 2nd or 3rd.

Plus hes asing for a revised contract now, he has no more guaranteed money after 2026 that's likely what he wants.

Which Dallas gives Dallas the incentive to redo him as next year's cap hit is Ike 18 million.

Is he worth a premier contract and valuable day 2 pick next year?

 

[Mitch]

Von Miller is at a different stage of his career. Mack is still a starting DE and already has 3 sacks in 4 games.

Von is a pinch hit pass rusher in likely his last season. They’re just not comparable in a 1 to 1 sense.

I think that’s the way to go this year - get a good performing veteran who wants to play playoff football from a losing team.

Trade deadline is after week 9, there should be some teams at 3-6 or worse with key injuries ready to mail it in, shouldn’t there?

 

[darthseinfeld]

I don't think you're really going to be able to acquire much passrush juice on the edge. Josh Sweat is probably the best option there.

They badly need interior rushers. Depending on how teams perform, some pending free agent options might be:

Adetomiwa Adebawore, DeForest Buckner - IND
Maliek Collins - CLE
Moro Ojomo - PHI
Daron Payne - WAS

Sieler would help there a ton

Payne is supposedly on the block. I dont know if he is someone they would go after, but if the draft pick compensation is small he would make for a deep interior rotation. He is a better player than Clark is now

Collins would be a great pin your ears back guy. We probably need that more than anything.

Id love to get Ojomo, but I don't think Philadelphia would trade him to us

 

[darthseinfeld]

Sweat has at least played in similar system.

Its rumored the as is 2027 2nd or 3rd.

Plus hes asing for a revised contract now, he has no more guaranteed money after 2026 that's likely what he wants.

Which Dallas gives Dallas the incentive to redo him as next year's cap hit is Ike 18 million.

Is he worth a premier contract and valuable day 2 pick next year?

12 sacks last year, but only two seaons with double digits. One so far this year

 

[Chocolate Lab]

So we're going to get another short term vet who's just a DPR who doesn't play special teams at all?

We already made our bet with that guy, and his name is Von Miller.

 

[kskboys]

Outside of Maxx Crosby there aren't any truly pass rushers available, with the Raiders early success, he is most likely off the block. Could be the reason why Cowboys management pivoted in acquiring the high-end press corner. They still could add a mid-level type like a Josh Sweat, but probably would have to overpay. Point is, they isn't an elite edge rusher coming to save this defense.

As I mentioned, in another post Mike Pettine has worked with CP in the past while both of them in Green Bay. Matter of fact the Cowboys tried to hire him as a consultant onto CP's staff. His last stop was with the Vikings under Brain Flores, but he also was Rex Ryan's DC with the Jets:

Jets designed a defense around Darrell Revis with an average pass rush. They used a ton of simulated pressures. Not saying Porter is on the level as Revis, nor has to be, but this can work to generate more pressure and force the ball out more quickly.

Get Parker some help. We have too much talent at edge to be this bad. Something is wrong, get it fixed.

 

[kskboys]

Blitz Barham, Overshown, and Downs. Play more man defense.

The NFL as a whole plays around 25% man coverage. Why? Wears a D out and comes w/ obvious holes. It's not the answer.

 

[kskboys]

Simple answer. Learn how to draft or acquire through free agency better edge players.

Should have and could have kept Clowney at the barest of minimums.

BUT currently the hope is that EZ can someday hopefully reach a Dorance Armstrong type ceiling. Hopefully. I know, what a ceiling.
One trick pony speed rusher Malachi Lawrence is no different. If he's even that good.
It goes way way back in years on continuous misses with pass rushers.
They hit on 2 in the last 15 years ie DLaw & Micah and totally lucked into Micah, and neither is here now.

Wanting or thinking that the existing players are better than they are or are not being coached properly is just denial to the fact that the team has a very strong historical record of NOT being able to draft/acquire good pass rushers.
Period.

Clowney is a journeyman and is not the answer.

 

[Cowboysheelsreds053]

Blitz Barham, Overshown, and Downs. Play more man defense.

Now with Porter, he is a man on corner.

 

[817Gill]

I think that’s the way to go this year - get a good performing veteran who wants to play playoff football from a losing team.

Trade deadline is after week 9, there should be some teams at 3-6 or worse with key injuries ready to mail it in, shouldn’t there?

100%

 

[817Gill]

Man, he’s getting up there, don’t know if he can really give us what we need, vs being another Von Miller signing.

He’s looked good so far this season if at least in sack numbers alone. He’s on pace for a 13 sack season at the moment (which probably won’t happen but just for context).

Unless he happens to fall off the cliff mid-season he should be at least a productive pass rusher for the rest of 2026.

 

[mardwin]

New name to consider, Khalil Mack.

Chargers are done and the Cowboys can afford him. Has 3 sacks this season and is a proven pass rusher despite his age. As a rental for 12-13 games or so he’d be a great addition.

The team already traded next year's 3rd round pick and he's not worth a 2nd round pick.

 

[817Gill]

The team already traded next year's 3rd round pick and he's not worth a 2nd round pick.

He would be more like a 4-5th round pick value wise

 

[kskboys]

He would be more like a 4-5th round pick value wise

Yup, especially considering his salary.

However, who you kicking to the curb by trading for Kalil, Pickens or Porter?

 

[817Gill]

Yup, especially considering his salary.

However, who you kicking to the curb by trading for Kalil, Pickens or Porter?

In terms of downroster guy to open up a spot or we talking which rotational guy gets less time?

 

[cowboys1981]

I wouldn't mind Reddick since he'd come cheap.

If trading, I wouldn't mind Mack or McDonald

 

[kskboys]

In terms of downroster guy to open up a spot or we talking which rotational guy gets less time?

You take on a cap hit like Mack, you are losing much more than that. At least one of our top guys would be gone. Unless Mack is in the final year of his deal, maybe. I have no idea.