Cowboys have no D-line going into 2025

[KingCorcoran]

Add it to the list

No DL
No coach
No Gm
No qb

May as well add “No chance”.

 

[CowboyFrog]

Seems like more of the same to me, we have the guys to get after the QB somewhat but without personel changes we are gonna get dozed by a running team....more of the same honestly.

 

[Mcsports]

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

That’d be rearranging chairs on a sinking ship.
We awfully thin at linebacker (overshown gone a year and Kendrick’s a free agent).
But I do prefer Parsons in a 3-4 for sure

 

[Coogiguy03]

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.

We haven't had a DL in years!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Coogiguy03]

Seems like more of the same to me, we have the guys to get after the QB somewhat but without personel changes we are gonna get dozed by a running team....more of the same honestly.

post of the morning!!

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

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.

Sam has been underwhelming, not living up to his second round pick. he was directly responsible for a couple of bone headed penalties that cost us games. he has underwhelmed greatly.
Kneeland gets a hall pass for now, but didn't show much and he is injured. I wonder if he is going to be like Lawrence.

neither make you go WOW. great. they are slightly above jags. perhaps williams is a JAG at this point.

 

[CowboyFrog]

Sam has been underwhelming, not living up to his second round pick. he was directly responsible for a couple of bone headed penalties that cost us games. he has underwhelmed greatly.
Kneeland gets a hall pass for now, but didn't show much and he is injured. I wonder if he is going to be like Lawrence.

neither make you go WOW. great. they are slightly above jags. perhaps williams is a JAG at this point.

i dont either are JAGS yet and both could be very good rushers....neither solve the real problem we have on the DL though...

 

[Carson]

Good! We need to turn it over

 

[CowboyFrog]

Good! We need to turn it over

sure but with what plan, if the plan is more of the same youll just be yelling at diferent names....

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

Sam has been underwhelming, not living up to his second round pick. he was directly responsible for a couple of bone headed penalties that cost us games. he has underwhelmed greatly.
Kneeland gets a hall pass for now, but didn't show much and he is injured. I wonder if he is going to be like Lawrence.

neither make you go WOW. great. they are slightly above jags. perhaps williams is a JAG at this point.

If you judge guys based on year 3 in the league then we still haven't seen Sam's year 3 so for me he's a incomplete. I see the potential there. HE's made some rookie mistakes for sure. But Demarcus Lawrence did too. Young guys typically do. Whether we like Sam or not though all i'm saying is this is our future for next season. They are not gonna get rid of him unless he makes them with some off the field stuff.

I was impressed at times with Kneeland. If he's our next Lawrence that would be a miracle. I'd take it.

They aren't going to wow you let's be realistic about them these are 2nd round picks. These are guys you hope eventually become contributors. It took Gholston 3 years to do it. These aren't day 1 starters.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

i dont either are JAGS yet and both could be very good rushers....neither solve the real problem we have on the DL though...

I think from what i've seen both are solid against the run though. That will help some but we are gonna have to get better in the interior. We really need Mazi to take that next step and for it to eventually click.

 

[BoyzBlaster]

Mazi is a lost cause they should trade him for a sack of footballs. Tough times are coming...

 

[CowboyFrog]

I think from what i've seen both are solid against the run though. That will help some but we are gonna have to get better in the interior. We really need Mazi to take that next step and for it to eventually click.

mazi is they key now the run defense will go as he goes or doesnt....without DLaw (yeah i know everyone trashes him) our edge run defense goes way down..if i'm an OC and i see Williams and Parsons on the edge im may not throw a pass until they stop the run.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

i dont either are JAGS yet and both could be very good rushers....neither solve the real problem we have on the DL though...

time will tell.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

If you judge guys based on year 3 in the league then we still haven't seen Sam's year 3 so for me he's a incomplete. I see the potential there. HE's made some rookie mistakes for sure. But Demarcus Lawrence did too. Young guys typically do. Whether we like Sam or not though all i'm saying is this is our future for next season. They are not gonna get rid of him unless he makes them with some off the field stuff.

I was impressed at times with Kneeland. If he's our next Lawrence that would be a miracle. I'd take it.

They aren't going to wow you let's be realistic about them these are 2nd round picks. These are guys you hope eventually become contributors. It took Gholston 3 years to do it. These aren't day 1 starters.

there are rookie mistakes, that get corrected with more film study, etc. then there is bone headed mistakes. Williams tends to have some boneheaded mistakes that are/were easily preventable. I also didn't like what he did when he was planning to throw a playoff win party last year for the GB game....wrong mindset. perhaps its part of the cultural problems at cowboys organization.
so far, in two years he has been less than impressive for a 2nd round pick. he did OK for a rookie his first year. 2024 was his 3rd year, but he was injured. so one more year!?

and Kneeland got injured.

again, I just don't think they are differenec makers and impact players.

 

[Risen Star]

We had no DL going into 2024 either.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

there are rookie mistakes, that get corrected with more film study, etc. then there is bone headed mistakes. Williams tends to have some boneheaded mistakes that are/were easily preventable. I also didn't like what he did when he was planning to throw a playoff win party last year for the GB game....wrong mindset. perhaps its part of the cultural problems at cowboys organization.
so far, in two years he has been less than impressive for a 2nd round pick. he did OK for a rookie his first year. 2024 was his 3rd year, but he was injured. so one more year!?

and Kneeland got injured.

again, I just don't think they are differenec makers and impact players.

I mean I can't argue if they are because I don't know. All i'm saying is we will know because they may be your starters next season. Mazi, Sam Williams and Kneeland will be getting some major snaps next season.

 

[Loso86]

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.

Should change the title, this post would make more sense if it wasn't before FA and the draft.

 

[charron]

Top 10 interior players according to pff. What they need to do is actually have some conversations with a few guys once free agency opens and not just focus on 1 player. Osa had a fantastic year but it is likely the boys need depth along the line and you can only do so much during the draft.

Interior Defender​

1. Milton Williams, Philadelphia Eagles
2. Levi Onwuzurike, Detroit Lions
3. B.J. Hill, Cincinnati Bengals
4. Calais Campbell, Miami Dolphins
5. Osa Odighizuwa, Dallas Cowboys
6. Jarran Reed, Seattle Seahawks
7. Teair Tart, Los Angeles Chargers
8. Tershawn Wharton, Kansas City Chiefs
9. D.J. Jones, Denver Broncos
10. Poona Ford, Los Angeles Chargers

 

[plasticman]

I was messing around with a draft simulator the other day and ended up taking both Michigan DT's with my first two picks.

Mason Graham fell to me, even though I had traded down to 14.

I traded up slightly from the 2nd round to the 29th pick and took Kenneth Grant.

Unrealistic, I know. It's fun to imagine.