This was interesting to me when I was looking over the Cowboys’ depth chart. The Dallas Cowboys defense is clearly better than it was a year ago, but they are about to have the newest sack leader for the third year in a row.
What do I mean by that? Well, if you remember when the Cowboys traded Micah Parsons, they lost the guy who led their team in sacks since the time he was drafted by the team.
Last season, Jadeveon Clowney led the Dallas Cowboys in sacks with 8.5, and now as he remains unsigned, the Cowboys, even with a VERY improved defensive line, still lack a true pass rusher.
Now, let me be clear first, and please read this, the Dallas defense is better than it was last year, and I mean that, but without Clowney, outside two rookies, we don’t have a guy that is just strictly a pass rusher.
Take A Look
When you take a peak at the Cowboys’ depth chart, the defensive line is very good now.
Quinnen Williams, Kenny Clark, Rashan Gary, Malachi Lawrence and Jaishawn Barham, a very solid defensive line, and honestly, if I had to guess right now, my guess would be that either Gary or Lawrence will do most of the damage for Dallas this year and one of them will probably lead the team in sacks.
Gary was a Pro Bowl player in 2024, and had 9 sacks in 2023, and 7.5 sacks in each of the last two seasons. Just over seven sacks cannot be the highest total on your team. I mean I bet that would be one of the lowest totals in the entire league.
Then you look at a guy like Williams. He had 12 sacks in 2022, but since then he has only had a total 17.5 in the other four years.
The Cowboys allowed 511 points – most in NFL and franchise history – and dedicated their two first-round picks in safety Caleb Downs and DE Malachi Lawrence.
Lawrence had seven sacks and 31 pressures in 2025 for UCF. And his 4.52-second 40 time was third among edges at the
Clark is the same way. He has never had more than 7.5 sacks in a single season, and he is going on the decline as of now, and he will do the same thing for this team as Williams. These two are going to help them defend against the run and make sure that others can get theirs.
I will say this though, I will take what they have right now over a guy who will get you 20 plus sacks. Now, I think both the Packers and the Cowboys won that trade, and the Dallas defense in terms of personnel is better today a year after the trade than they were before it.
I would like them to resign Clowney, who still remains unsigned. That would be the best possible offseason outside of trading for Maxx Crosby, in my opinion.
Dallas just lost Dante Fowler to the Seattle Seahawks last week, so a depth guy there has been lost, so it would be nice to see them resign the guy who just led the team in sacks last season, or they will have a new sack leader for the third year in a row.
The Cowboys have a lot of guys that are going to need to chip in with getting to the passer this year, but I trust the guy who they are allowing to guide the defense now in Parker.
Although they lack this, the secondary is still the biggest issue with the defense, but all they need to be on average for this team and will George Pickens returning to the tag, the offense will be good enough again.
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Let’s hope they can avoid any major injuries, because they need all the bodies they can have on the field.