Will this Cowboys rookie replace Randy Gregory in Dallas?

After yet another failed drug test, is Dallas Cowboys second-year defensive end Randy Gregory really in danger of losing his job to a rookie rusher?

The Dallas Cowboys knew they were taking a risk when they drafted Nebraska defensive end Randy Gregory in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft. Considered by many to be a top-five level talent and the best pure pass rusher in his class, Gregory tumbled down draft boards after failing his drug test during the NFL’s Scouting Combine.

Less than a year later, Gregory will be serving a four-game suspension for failing his fourth drug test as a professional. It’s a sad fact that has many general managers around the league relived that they made the right call by not drafting the talented, but troubled defender last year.

In Dallas, Gregory has done little on-the-field to be worthy of the headache he’s starting to become off it. After recording 3.0 sacks in his first three preseason games, the 23-year old struggled during the regular season following an ankle injury he suffered against the New York Giants in Week One. Gregory ended his disappointing rookie season recording only 11 total tackles and zero sacks in 12 games.

Now sidelined for the first four games of the season due to violating the league’s substance abuse policy, Gregory will start his sophomore season in Dallas already behind schedule. And one football analyst believes this absence combined with his off-the-field issues could open the door for a rookie rusher to replace him in the starting lineup.

"“The Cowboys’ fourth-round pick this year out of Oklahoma, [Charles] Tapper, will have an advantage in training camp because of the two suspensions — and he looks like a particular threat to steal Gregory’s starting job from him,” wrote Pro Football Focus’ John Breitenbach. “Tapper was not the most productive defensive lineman in this class, due predominantly to a lack of consistency, but his potential is frightening. He was one of the top performers at the NFL combine, breaking 4.6 seconds in the 40-yard dash, and he earned solid grades against the run and as a pass-rusher.”"

The fact is both Gregory and Tapper still have a lot to prove in Dallas. Namely being, can either of them excel on the NFL-level. And for Gregory the bigger question is can he stay clean long enough to even prove he actually belongs on the roster?

Certainly, Gregory’s starting job is anything but secure in Dallas. In fact, some believe the second-year pass rusher could find himself without a job completely if his drug issues continue. That was the fear many NFL teams had about Gregory during the draft. And so far, his poor decisions and on-field play are proving them right.

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