Cowboys have no D-line going into 2025

[morat1959]

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.

No worries, Dak will make up the difference with his skill set. He’s gotta pick up the slack somewhere. He’s the highest paid player in the league.

 

[stilltheguru]

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

Those are not pff rankings.

https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-2025-nfl-free-agent-rankings

Nobody with sense would put levi over osa.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

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.

yeah, we have to wait, but man, that's not a enticing lineup. I mean Mazi is a bust already.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

yeah, we have to wait, but man, that's not a enticing lineup. I mean Mazi is a bust already.

I mean its year 3 for Mazi. Who knows. He's shown progression from year 1 to 2...who knows. Its not enticing for sure. But i'm also the same person that didn't think Aubrey would become what he became. Didn't think Overshown would become what he would become. Most guys I don't think we see coming like they do. It was easy to see Lamb and Zeke coming. Top prospects. I didn't see Bland at all coming into a All Pro. So who knows. I'd hope they at least find some starters in free agency.

 

[JonesBoys]

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.

Haven’t we been saying this every year? They need DT’s and line backers that can play the run? It like Groundhog Day. Lucky they have a great GM that can fix holes.

 

[KJJ]

We didn’t have a DL going into the 2024 season. Hard to remember the last time we had a DL. At least not one that can stop the run. lol

 

[Whirlwin]

Add it to the list

No DL
No coach
No Gm
No qb

No fans either. Lol.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

I mean its year 3 for Mazi. Who knows. He's shown progression from year 1 to 2...who knows. Its not enticing for sure. But i'm also the same person that didn't think Aubrey would become what he became. Didn't think Overshown would become what he would become. Most guys I don't think we see coming like they do. It was easy to see Lamb and Zeke coming. Top prospects. I didn't see Bland at all coming into a All Pro. So who knows. I'd hope they at least find some starters in free agency.

he started really bad. got slightly better the second year. so technically he progressed, but man he was a first round pick and expected to have some impact and he has had none.

I thought Overshown was going to be good, but had injuries. he was slated to be a first round pick if not for his injury.

Mazi should have been a 5th round pick.

 

[jblaze2004]

he started really bad. got slightly better the second year. so technically he progressed, but man he was a first round pick and expected to have some impact and he has had none.

I thought Overshown was going to be good, but had injuries. he was slated to be a first round pick if not for his injury.

Mazi should have been a 5th round pick.

Overshown is a DAWG when he plays but man injuries have been terrible for him. Not little injuries either. Big time injuries. Back to Back season's. I kind of wonder if he even comes back to the player he was. I mean he is young but man, thats tough.

 

[calicowboy54]

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.

This is the problem with signing 1 years deals you keep doing it over and over again and you have times were you roll off on non 1 year guys and you end up with this year problem... i really feel you need to sign guys to 2 year + a team void year to see how they do. front load the contract for 1 year, 2nd year less money and the 3rd is team voidable. you get to see who's a keeper over a 2 year span.

 

[windward]

It’s January 31st. Chill.

 

[atlantacowboy]

Haven’t we been saying this every year? They need DT’s and line backers that can play the run? It like Groundhog Day. Lucky they have a great GM that can fix holes.

Been talking about this since Jason Hatcher left.

 

[rocknrobcowboy]

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.

So The Cowboys have no D-line going into 2025.

So what you're saying Is That LB's Are Replacing The No DL?

 

[Smith22]

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

Pretty sure he finished the year top 5 in pressures among DTs.

With Parsons needing new deal, not sure we can afford Osa.

 

[Smith22]

Also, with Overshown most likely missing the bulk of the upcoming season, if not all of it, we really need help at linebacker.

EK probably doesn't return either.

 

[gtb1943]

he started really bad. got slightly better the second year. so technically he progressed, but man he was a first round pick and expected to have some impact and he has had none.

I thought Overshown was going to be good, but had injuries. he was slated to be a first round pick if not for his injury.

Mazi should have been a 5th round pick.

Mazi went from dog crap to JAG. I guess that is progress

 

[Kingofholland]

we had no real DL this year anyway

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

I hear you, I don't believe Osa is a game changer at this point but I do think he's gotten better and is one of the better dts we've had here in recent memory. He's an above average dt with some potential to maybe creep into the top 10.

In the end it all depends on the $$$. If his market dictates 20 million a year I would take my chances and prioritize dt in the draft and take some flyers on rotational dts in free agency. The problem though is all the other draft needs it's hard to improve the roster plugging holes.

 

[IceStar-D7]

The DUMBEST thing Dallas can do is to draft a O-lineman with their first pick. RB- wide-out or defense. Wasted pick if they pick an O-lineman in the 1st round.

 

[Havic]

DT will be the 1st round selection for Dallas.

 

[ksadler1]

We haven't had decent depth on the offensive or defensive lines in years. It's absolutely criminal what Jerry & Co have done to this franchise by neglecting the trenches. If Jerry would stop handing out stupid contracts, maybe we could have some depth. Until they fix the trenches, other changes won't matter.