Cowboys have no D-line going into 2025

[Jkyle]

It is scary how bare the cupboard is regarding the Cowboys D-Line situation.
Mazi Smith is the only remaining Starter going into 2025.
Osa and Gholston are Free-Agents.
All the rest going into 2025 are just JAG's.
The only options for the Team is to overpay for FA's because any of the top FA's know the Cowboys are desperate for help. Therefore, anyone they get will be overpaid.
To retain Osa, they will have to pay him well above his true value.
Likewise, Gholston won't cost as much, but he will be paid like a starter when he is more of a rotational D-lineman.
If they don't re-sign either of them, we will likely be bargain shopping for DL and we will continue to get steamrolled by offenses.
Even with Osa and Gholston, we would still have a very weak DLine because both more rotational level talents and our rotational/2nd team will be below them.
Given this situation, I would expect the Cowboys to draft the top DL if there at 12.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Kneeland and Williams are starters??? Carl Lawson isn't bad. Parsons is basically a DE.

 

[JBS]

Add it to the list

No DL
No coach
No Gm
No qb

 

[atlantacowboy]

Kneeland and Williams are starters??? Carl Lawson isn't bad.

The interior is bare. We were 29th against the run last season. We desperately need some run stuffing DTs and LBs.

DE is better but we don't know what Williams is going to look like and Lawson is a free agent, I think.

 

[thunderpimp91]

I think its at a level that can be really good with just a couple of moves.

I would be shocked if OSA isnt brought back, even if its just on the franchise tag. Hes just too good of a fit for OSA to let him walk. OSA should be perfect as a gap shooter in this scheme.

Upgrading the 1T would be a top priority in free agency. Eberflus runs some hybrid 3-4 looks with a true nose and gets three big bodies on the field at once. With his style it shouldn't be unreasonable to expect the Cowboys to invest in the interior defense more than normal...key word being shoudn't...I'm still skeptical that Jerry/Stephen will actually do that.

At DE they are probably in better shape than we think. I'd love to see a legitimate pass rush threat taken early in the draft, but even if not Parsons/Kneeland isnt a horrible combo. Williams I would have low expectations for coming back from injury, but he could offer some upside. I'd also anticipate at least one of DLaw/Golston/Lawson to return if not two from that group.

 

[jblaze2004]

Well to be clear we really didn't have no dline this year lol.
Parsons is basically a DE but other than him it was pretty meh.

I can see us bringing at least 2-3 of these guys back on one year deals unless they go sign with the Commanders lol
Carl Lawson, DE
Chauncey Golston, DL
Linval Joseph, DL
Carlos Watkins, DL

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

Kneeland and Williams are starters??? Carl Lawson isn't bad. Parsons is basically a DE.

that's a sad sad sad group outside of Parsons.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

It is scary how bare the cupboard is regarding the Cowboys D-Line situation.
Mazi Smith is the only remaining Starter going into 2025.
Osa and Gholston are Free-Agents.
All the rest going into 2025 are just JAG's.
The only options for the Team is to overpay for FA's because any of the top FA's know the Cowboys are desperate for help. Therefore, anyone they get will be overpaid.
To retain Osa, they will have to pay him well above his true value.
Likewise, Gholston won't cost as much, but he will be paid like a starter when he is more of a rotational D-lineman.
If they don't re-sign either of them, we will likely be bargain shopping for DL and we will continue to get steamrolled by offenses.
Even with Osa and Gholston, we would still have a very weak DLine because both more rotational level talents and our rotational/2nd team will be below them.
Given this situation, I would expect the Cowboys to draft the top DL if there at 12.

I think you mean interior linemen. We for sure have a d-line. How good? I don't know but they have players on the edge.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

that's a sad sad sad group outside of Parsons.

I don' tknow about sad but they are unknown with potential. Chances are that's our best bet next season you won't find studs for cheap in free agency. Best you can do is hope for a Carl Lawson.

 

[gtb1943]

we had no real DL this year anyway

I am not as enamored with Osa as some are; giving him either tag is ridiculous.

 

[JW82]

I agree. I also think Osa is being pumped up like a top DT. He is solid but he is not a dominant game changing guy. They'll have to hit in the draft (which they've shown no ability to do at DT) or trade for a vet. Would love to see them give eberfluse his old DT Buckner back. I know, pipe dream

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

I don' tknow about sad but they are unknown with potential. Chances are that's our best bet next season you won't find studs for cheap in free agency. Best you can do is hope for a Carl Lawson.

what unknown? what potential? Gholston been around for a while. we know what he is. if we don't then our evaluation process sucks.
kneeland is just another lawrence at best....not sure he can even be that good. he started right down lawrence's path of getting injured and being on the bench which is history of lawrence in dallas.
. williams been around for 3 years. he is undisicplined and a wild card. not smart enough to play the position and contribute regularly. for every good play he has 3 bad ones.

 

[gtb1943]

depending on where you play parsons, we have no one on the DL that any OC is going to worry about.

That right there is a big honking flashing neon sign

 

[gtb1943]

Kneeland is the only young guy we have that shows real potential.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

what unknown? what potential? Gholston been around for a while. we know what he is. if we don't then our evaluation process sucks.
kneeland is just another lawrence at best....not sure he can even be that good. he started right down lawrence's path of getting injured and being on the bench which is history of lawrence in dallas.
. williams been around for 3 years. he is undisicplined and a wild card. not smart enough to play the position and contribute regularly. for every good play he has 3 bad ones.

I'm speaking strictly on Sam Williams and Kneeland that was mentioned i don't even think Gholston is even under contract. They were both 2nd round picks not too long ago. Sam got hurt last year and Kneeland was a rookie last year.

Sam is a incomplete IMO. He's relatively new to football if I understand correctly. So I don't think its about not being smart enough but being behind the curve.

I'd love for us to go into free agency and get a Myles Garrett. All i'm saying is realistically the available options will be players the caliber of Carl Lawson and Carl Lawson would've been on the bench if not for these same guys getting hurt. Realistically these are your future players next season. Maybe they have another Everson Griffen or Robert Quinn trade in them.....or a Michael Bennett.

 

[baltcowboy]

You think the defensive line is bad. Take a look at running back and cornerback.

 

[fivetwos]

It is scary how bare the cupboard is regarding the Cowboys D-Line situation.
Mazi Smith is the only remaining Starter going into 2025.
Osa and Gholston are Free-Agents.
All the rest going into 2025 are just JAG's.
The only options for the Team is to overpay for FA's because any of the top FA's know the Cowboys are desperate for help. Therefore, anyone they get will be overpaid.
To retain Osa, they will have to pay him well above his true value.
Likewise, Gholston won't cost as much, but he will be paid like a starter when he is more of a rotational D-lineman.
If they don't re-sign either of them, we will likely be bargain shopping for DL and we will continue to get steamrolled by offenses.
Even with Osa and Gholston, we would still have a very weak DLine because both more rotational level talents and our rotational/2nd team will be below them.
Given this situation, I would expect the Cowboys to draft the top DL if there at 12.

I agree with your point, but I don’t think it necessarily means they draft a DL in round one….although they absolutely ought to.

After using a first on Mazi and giving big money to either Golston or OO, they will consider the position fixed.

I expect the first pick to be used on an offensive playmaker to help make the Dak situation not look as bad as it is. There isn’t a shot Jerry passes on Jeanty if he is there.

IMO they need to invest multiple high picks AND free agent dollars into the DL…both inside and out, starters AND depth….but they will not. They don’t value it, and will count on Mazi and Sam Williams way more than they ought to. Why? Because they aren’t good at this. Notice all the teams that are around late in the playoffs have studs on the interior DL.

Either way, they need much more than one draft can provide, but they aren’t good enough to figure out how to add what’s needed to compete. They are better at coming up with lame excuses.

 

[cowboyec]

dt is bare...mazi shows signs of life but i hope we address it early...and maybe double dip.

de...parsons and kneeland were starters...(kneeland started after dlaw got hurt).
with sam williams returning...thats not too bad.
if dlaw returns...great.
but if he leaves during f/a...de jumps way up the list for me.

 

[Mcsports]

what unknown? what potential? Gholston been around for a while. we know what he is. if we don't then our evaluation process sucks.
kneeland is just another lawrence at best....not sure he can even be that good. he started right down lawrence's path of getting injured and being on the bench which is history of lawrence in dallas.
. williams been around for 3 years. he is undisicplined and a wild card. not smart enough to play the position and contribute regularly. for every good play he has 3 bad ones.

Great observation on Williams.
He is his worst enemy. Biggest play he makes are penalties

 

[Majic]

It is scary how bare the cupboard is regarding the Cowboys D-Line situation.
Mazi Smith is the only remaining Starter going into 2025.
Osa and Gholston are Free-Agents.
All the rest going into 2025 are just JAG's.
The only options for the Team is to overpay for FA's because any of the top FA's know the Cowboys are desperate for help. Therefore, anyone they get will be overpaid.
To retain Osa, they will have to pay him well above his true value.
Likewise, Gholston won't cost as much, but he will be paid like a starter when he is more of a rotational D-lineman.
If they don't re-sign either of them, we will likely be bargain shopping for DL and we will continue to get steamrolled by offenses.
Even with Osa and Gholston, we would still have a very weak DLine because both more rotational level talents and our rotational/2nd team will be below them.
Given this situation, I would expect the Cowboys to draft the top DL if there at 12.

Now would have been ideal time to switch to 3-4