In last season’s training camp, Cowboys edge rusher Sam Williams was putting in the work and looking to take a big leap heading into 2024. After flashing serious potential over his first two seasons, posting 4.5 sacks in 2023, 4 sacks as a rookie, and a combined 15 tackles for loss, Williams was poised for a breakout year. But those plans were derailed in mid-July when he suffered a torn ACL in his left knee, forcing him to miss the entire 2024 season.
Fast forward to now, the return has officially arrived, and Sam Williams is hungry to cause havoc for offenses all across the league. In a recent appearance on the Law Nation Sports podcast, Williams made his mindset crystal clear. He’s not concerned with media narratives or outside noise about the Cowboys.
“All that new coach, new that, this this — it doesn't matter. I'm fixing to go kill some (expletive),” Williams said. “End of the story. Somebody gonna feel me, bro. I've been off of this for what, a year? They’ve gotta feel me. They're gonna know every game.”
Williams isn’t sugarcoating anything. He’s quick, direct, and locked in on one goal: making life miserable for opposing offenses. That’s exactly the kind of mentality Cowboys fans are fired up to see from a guy ready to make a name for himself this season.
And with four-time Pro Bowler DeMarcus Lawrence leaving Dallas to sign with the Seattle Seahawks, the door is wide open for Williams to step up and become a major force on this Cowboys defensive line.
But he won’t be the only one looking to cause damage. This defensive front is stacked, and dangerous. Williams could end up as a key depth piece within an already loaded unit. Four-time Pro Bowler Micah Parsons remains the centerpiece, arguably the best defensive player in the entire NFL. Proven veteran Dante Fowler Jr. returns to the mix, alongside last year’s second-round pick Marshawn Kneeland, who’s looking to take a leap. Payton Turner, plus this year’s second-round pick from Boston College, Donovan Ezeiruaku, are also fighting to carve out key roles.
Whether Williams turns this into a true breakout season and steps out of the shadows to become a cornerstone of the Cowboys’ defense, or locks in as a valuable rotational weapon, one thing’s for sure: Sam Williams’ confident swagger and relentless mindset will be something to watch all season long in 2025.
