_(Editor's Note: Time to check the mail! The DallasCowboys.com staff writers answer your questions here in 'Mailbag' presented by Miller Lite.)_
_It seems like the Cowboys have struggled to_ _consistently_ _draft defensive players while they are one of the best at drafting offensive guys. Is there a reason why? Are some teams just better at evaluating and selecting talent on one side of the ball than the other? What'**s the fix?**–_Mitchell Harris_\*/__Phoenix_\*,**AZ**
**Patrik**: I don't think it's a problem on a macro scale for the Cowboys. This is the same team that found a First-team All-Pro in the fifth round (DaRon Bland), and granted Bland has struggled with availability but that doesn't change the fact. Recently, there's plenty of promise from Shemar James, a late-round pick, and I suspect Marist Liufau was simply held back by the 2025 defensive coaching staff, given the fact he fired out of the gate as a rookie in 2024. I can continue here, e.g., DeMarvion Overshown, Osa Odighizuwa, even mentioning the upside on the late Marshawn Kneeland, so, no, I don't think there's an overarching issue scouting and drafting defense. Oh, and they drafted Micah Parsons, so there's that. I think it's more true that the Cowboys' mistakes are amplified (though the whiff on Mazi Smith, Taco Charlton were admittedly tied to their first-round status). Every team has misses ... but tell me about the Jaguars' or Panthers' misses, if you can. Thus, my point.