Cowboys have no D-line going into 2025

[plymkr]

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

I’m excited to see Kneeland for a whole season and healthy. I don’t really for want to pay Odiggy, not for what he’s asking for. That would be an overpayment due to need and he’s one of our guys. That 2nd contract for Osa scares me.

 

[plymkr]

I thought they got a solid year out of Lawson.
Micah was solid.
Kneeland was a rookie who got hurt.
Lawrence got hurt.
Sam Williams got hurt.

I forgot about Sam Williams. He’s it a needle mover but he’s good, cheap depth. It’ll be good to get him back. I also agree Lawson was solid.

 

[CowboyoWales]

My second pick in the draft would be a strong defensive tackle or linebacker. Criteria for change now has to be focused as to directions and focus in strength added.

With a draft: limited in 1st Rd Grades and with our number of organizational holes are we really in such a position to go BPA? The way boards are looking at the moment, there's a number of 2nd grade DT's predicted to land between 15-50. All we need is the 'run' to start at the end of the 1st and we're likely to get wiped out again (ala the recent years on TE and RB).
If we like a specific DT (careful McClay), we should really considering drafting back, to take 'our man' and re-coup a pick. We have to go Lines first.

 

[CowboyoWales]

I’m excited to see Kneeland for a whole season and healthy. I don’t really for want to pay Odiggy, not for what he’s asking for. That would be an overpayment due to need and he’s one of our guys. That 2nd contract for Osa scares me.

Yep, im sure we (as Cowboy's fans) have been here before......what makes us think throwing an extra $15m per is going to elevate his/our D-Line. This is the ridiculous position Jerry puts us in, we werent competing in 2024, so why didnt you trade him and re-invest the pick?

 

[CCBoy]

Real football talk is great here on site.

Crying and attacking posters with stereotypes is not Cowboy talk...



The Cowboys didn't just settle for Schotty. The more they considered, the better taking that shot appealed to them. Getting an experienced NFL hand as a head coach, and on top of that the new offensive coordinator and play-caller. Plus, add in a guy who will work his tush off to become successful with his first head coach opportunity after all these years without a push from behind.

And will say it again: Schotty arrives with the blessings of Dak Prescott. And look, knowing Dak, he's not just giving lip service to this hire when he told me, "Schotty means a lot to me." And don't underestimate the familiarity and continuity aspect of this hire. 'Tis meaningful.

The Cowboys did not just pick Schottenheimer's name out of a hat. And guarantee you all along he and the Cowboys knew they were going to bring in Matt Eberflus as his defensive coordinator, thus taking care of the two most important staff positions...

https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/spagnola-back-off-taking-this-shot-with-schotty



Let's follow this season in the real world.

...over the past 11 seasons, meaning 2014-24, they have posted seven winning years, three losing ones (all connected to losing their starting quarterback) and one at 8-8.

 

[JW82]

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

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

Yeah. Stats can be padded vs crappy teams. Don't remember him making game changing plays vs good teams or stepping up when they were getting blown out early in the year. I agree, he's probably going to get overpaid this offseason because the DT market won't be great. Hoping they can find an upgrade this offseason, maybe a cheaper upgrade. Like to see them pull another Gilmore/Cooks veteran trade with the comp picks. Maybe for DT and OT this year.

 

[CCBoy]

Yeah. Stats can be padded vs crappy teams. Don't remember him making game changing plays vs good teams or stepping up when they were getting blown out early in the year. I agree, he's probably going to get overpaid this offseason because the DT market won't be great. Hoping they can find an upgrade this offseason, maybe a cheaper upgrade. Like to see them pull another Gilmore/Cooks veteran trade with the comp picks. Maybe for DT and OT this year.

The stats aren't padded and the Pope is still Catholic. Oh, Parsons is for real and his effect remains against good teams as well.

 

[CCBoy]

With a draft: limited in 1st Rd Grades and with our number of organizational holes are we really in such a position to go BPA? The way boards are looking at the moment, there's a number of 2nd grade DT's predicted to land between 15-50. All we need is the 'run' to start at the end of the 1st and we're likely to get wiped out again (ala the recent years on TE and RB).
If we like a specific DT (careful McClay), we should really considering drafting back, to take 'our man' and re-coup a pick. We have to go Lines first.

Puff the Magic Dragon lived by the sea...was supposed to be a military reference to big cannons in Viet Nam carried by large aircraft.

Team strengths can be improved by performance enhanced by parts of the functioning game effects and not by just fixing a weak point at position, only.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

I forgot about Sam Williams. He’s it a needle mover but he’s good, cheap depth. It’ll be good to get him back. I also agree Lawson was solid.

Don’t get me wrong it doesn’t look good but I think there’s potential. Even if it is a little. Interior is just scary. And I don’t know how to go about improving it without spending capital. Unless one of these Michigan guys are ready to come right in and play.

 

[big dog cowboy]

So they going to waste a tag on him?

No! Where did you get that from?

 

[Cowboysheelsreds053]

We been had a no DL going back to the rams PO loss years ago.

 

[kskboys]

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.

Well said.

And if we overpay for DT's, then other areas will suffer. As per usual.

We've been expected to draft the top DT for decades and never do. Remember Mo over Fletcher Cox? That's what we do.

 

[kskboys]

We been had a no DL going back to the rams PO loss years ago.

And way further back than that.

 

[kskboys]

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

Yup!! And DT is even worse!!!! At least Bland and Dowdle are passable starters, we have zero starting quality DT's!!!!!!

 

[kskboys]

we had no real DL this year anyway

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

Osa is a good rotational DT. Nice player, a little subpar as a starter.

People are doing the same thing w/ Osa as they did w/ Crawford. Our DT positions sucks so badly that they see any sign of life as making the player some awesome game changing starter. Unfortunately, they learned this from Jerry.

 

[baltcowboy]

Yup!! And DT is even worse!!!! At least Bland and Dowdle are passable starters, we have zero starting quality DT's!!!!!!

Bland is under contract for one more season. Dowdle is a free agent. Any contract he gets from us will be at least 2 million against the cap that could go somewhere else. Dowdle is not a lock to return his cap hit would be better used for a linebacker.

 

[kskboys]

Bland is under contract for one more season. Dowdle is a free agent. Any contract he gets from us will be at least 2 million against the cap that could go somewhere else. Dowdle is not a lock to return his cap hit would be better used for a linebacker.

Ouch!!!!!!

 

[baltcowboy]

Ouch!!!!!!

I am being realistic. We need a free agent linebacker more then a journeyman runner.

 

[Chasing6]

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.

Have we had one the last few years???

 

[lostar2009]

No! Where did you get that from?

Will they let him go or go into a bidding war?