The Cowboys defense since Parsons trade

[JoeyBoy718]

It’s not like Dallas had no players on defense or never tried to build around Micah.

When they drafted Micah, they had D-Law, Randy Gregory and Osa on DL. They also had LVE at LB. Their secondary was stacked with Diggs, Brown, Kearse and Lewis.

Now, Gregory and LVE didn’t work out, but the rest remained constants. They even landed some more secondary players in Bland and Donovan Wilson.

They tried to continue building the DL with draft picks like Mazi and Dorance Armstrong. The latter has been a starter in the league since leaving Dallas. They also tried free agents like Hankins and Anthony Barr.

Overall, aside from trading a 1st for Q Williams, the defense doesn’t look much different from how it always has. Now, we’re hoping some young guys like EZE and Malachi break out, the same way we were hoping for Mazi and Armstrong. We’re hoping some veterans like Gary play well, the same way we were hoping with Hankins and Barr. We’re hoping the next crop of CBs steps up.

The biggest difference between now and the past 5 years is we essentially swapped Micah for Q. We still have the same question marks we’ve always had. We’re just wearing rose colored glasses because of our all new draft picks, the same way we had for Mazi Smith.

 

[JoeKing]

Take a lot of players to replace Micah it seems!

Stop kissing Micah's feet. That's not a balanced replacement. The Cowboys have the overwhelming advantage. I know you were trying to be cute, but it doesn't work.

 

[kskboys]

They actually did. They could fit Micah’s contract right now just by doing a simple restructure on a number of players contracts.

Well, I disagree. Yes, the salary cap can obviously be manipulated, but not to the degree that some here think.

You keep Micah, and we are a lesser team.

 

[kskboys]

More like a repulsion

That would explain why you'd blame Jerry's personnel gaffes on anyone else. Strange.

 

[Proof]

Oh you mean OP...... I don't see that as what he's saying. He's saying since Parsons been traded here the new players that have been brought in. And he's right....
So I'm not sure your point

it’s absolutely the implication. and as has been stated we could’ve kept micah and done the majority of this still

 

[Proof]

Lol nope. I'll do it again, just for you. Cap hits are cap hits.

2025 Cap hit out as UFA:
Donovan Wilson - $8.6
Kenneth Murray - $7.5
Dante Fowler - $6
Jalen Tolbert - $3.6
Jadaveon Clowney - $3.5
Logan Wilson - $2.8
Total: $29m
Cap increase: $21m

2026 Cap hit in:
Quennin Williams - $8.5
Rashan Gary - $5.7
Caleb Downs - $5.2
Von Miller - $5.5
Jalen Thompson - $4.6
Coby Durant - $4
PJ Locke - $4
Dee Winters - $3.7
Otito Ogbonnia - $2.4
Total: $43.6

$50 > $43.6 last time I checked.

This doesn't even account for things they didn't do like extending Pickens.

quickly rising in my fav posters list

 

[Proof]

Because the Cowboys aren’t trading 1st and 2nd rounders unless they already had one. You guys I guess expected Jerry to go all in with Micah and add Quinnen and pay him? I’ve seen nothing the last 30 years to suggest he’d take that gamble. They traded that compensation because they knew they had some left from the Micah deal.

you keep harping on the past 30 years to prove what jerry wouldn’t do when he’s actively doing it.

 

[Proof]

I’m not defending the Joneses, but it’s an either/ or with Quinnen and Micah.

If they didn’t have the cap room, draft capital and draft picks, they don’t make the Williams trade.

you’re arguing what they would’ve done, which … fine. the point is it was possible. trading micah may have been the catalyst, so i’ll take it, but it didn’t change the options or ability. just their urgency apparently. (after squandering half a season)