The Dallas Cowboys defense last season under Mike Zimmer was often much-maligned with injuries more than playing their part in the unit not functioning as many had hoped.
DaRon Bland, Micah Parsons, Trevon Diggs, DeMarcus Lawrence, and Sam Williams (out for season in training camp) all missed large chunks of the year.
But there was a distinct plan of attack this offseason.
Dallas' free agency business has seen them add a host of defensive players, with only three on offense.
Solomon Thomas, Peyton Turner, Jack Sandborn, and Dante Fowler loom as the big additions to the defense, along with Kenneth Murray Jr. and Kaiir Elam, who have come in to be part of Matt Eberflus' defense.
But there is a theme here. Thomas, Turner, and Fowler Jr. are all here to get after the quarterback, and when we add in Osa Odighizuwa, Micah Parsons, Kneeland, and Sam Williams, that is quite a group of pass-rushers.
As such, Pro Football Focus has named Dallas getting a quality pass rush as a big positive of the offseason.
"Retaining Osa Odighizuwa and his 78.5 PFF pass-rush grade from last year was the Cowboys’ top priority this offseason," Pro Football Focus writes. "With him and a healthy Micah Parsons back in the fold, Dallas figures to feature a dangerous pass rush once again. From Week 10 to Week 18, the Cowboys ranked third in the NFL in PFF pass-rush grade, behind Philadelphia and Pittsburgh."
So while many saw it as a big need, if we look back to the Cowboys in 2024, while their points allowed per game wasn't the best (27.5, ranked 31st), as far as a genuine pass rush goes, they were the third-best in football (52.0 sacks) and forced the third-most fumbles (18).
That'll work nicely.
Plus, Micah missed four games, Lawrence missed 13, and Kneeland only played 11 games, so there is potential for more production with the addition, particularly of Fowler Jr., who is coming off a 10.5 sack season with the Washington Commanders.
Of course, this is all hypothetical, and it isn't known how good Turner will be or if Fowler Jr. can replicate last year's efforts, but the Cowboys appear to have a solid nucleus of talent to attack the quarterback.
Now, it's all about getting on the field and doing it in a new scheme.
