2020 Dallas Cowboys vs Super Bowl Champ Kansas City Chiefs
Defensive Tackle
What was a big question coming into the offseason for the Cowboys, now looks much better. They have three new interior linemen at their disposal. I would expect all three to be the starters right off the bat.
Starting with the first signing and the biggest name, Gerald McCoy. He has one first-team All-Pro and six Pro Bowl seasons to his name. Run stuffing with a nice touch of pass-rushing has been his game. Although his best games are likely behind him, there’s more left in the tank.
Put him up against the young Chris Jones. After posting 15.5 sacks and 40 tackles in 2018, he still managed to rack up 9.0 sacks and 36 tackles in only 13 games with a Pro Bowl in 2019. He is an under the radar defensive tackle that has been key to the Chiefs defensive line.
McCoy’s brought a teammate from last season with the Carolina Panthers in Dontari Poe to Dallas. The nose tackle quietly had one of his better seasons last season despite missing five games. His 4.0 sacks are the best since 2014, and 22 tackles likely would’ve been up to the mid-’30s.
A young run-stuffing machine for the Chiefs in Derrick Nnadi remains a gem for the team. The soon to be 24-year-old had only 1.0 sack, but he also had 48 tackles in 2019. I can only imagine how much better he will continue to get.
I'm writing about Jones, but Derrick Nnadi has been S-T-R-O-N-G in the middle as of late. He was a huge part of KC controlling Cook. pic.twitter.com/Wga6K4nBQQ
— Seth Keysor (@RealMNchiefsfan) November 4, 2019
A 2020 third-round draft pick in Neville Gallimore joins the team looking to show off his freakish athleticism. While he has been inconsistent in college, it is hopeful he will clean it up as the third interior lineman for Dallas. If he is given good opportunities, he can terrorize opposing linemen.
The Chiefs 2019 third-round pick, Khalen Saunders, played well in his rookie season. With a limited role, he had 1.0 sack and 22 tackles. Pretty good for a rookie third-rounder.
This is a much clearer matchup than the edge, but not so much in Dallas’ favor. The duo of Jones and Nnadi played great last season, and better than both McCoy and Poe have played in a while.
I also like that the Chiefs have one lineman that is a great pass-rusher, and the other is a run stuffer. If Nnadi or Jones need a couple of snaps off, then Saunders can hold his own. The Cowboys top two linemen are both run stuffers with a non-NFL tested Gallimore.