Dallas Cowboys: Defensive end is suddenly a big need

There are whispers around the NFL that Randy Gregory might not be reinstated which means the Dallas Cowboys have a big need at defensive end.

The Dallas Cowboys drafted Randy Gregory in the second round of the 2015 NFL draft. So far their return has been minimal but there was hope surrounding the defensive end when the NFL decided to relax their stance on marijuana.

There has to be a whole lot more behind the story that the public is not aware of. Depending on who you talk to, Gregory has either filed or was preparing a file for reinstatement. A recent report regarding Gregory’s status painted a picture that the Cowboys are prepared to play the season without him.

Just how prepared are the Dallas Cowboys if Gregory sits out another season? The presumed starter in this situation has to be defensive end, Tyrone Crawford. I had a feeling that the Dallas Cowboys kept him around as insurance and that looks like that policy is about to be cashed.

Crawford could easily be cut in order to gain roughly $8 million dollars in salary cap space but that does not seem to be in the cards. Free-agent pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney’s price tag is apparently still too high for the Dallas Cowboys to do business so that means only one thing.

It looks like Cowboy fans are going to get a taste of what they have been begging for. The Jason Garrett era left a lot of fans scratching their heads as to why rookie or young developmental players rarely saw the field. A perfect example of this was rookie safety, Donovan Wilson.

The truth is a lot of these players are not ready to see the field but that kind of talk rarely satisfies the mob. This coaching staff apparently has the opposite view and it looks like the Dallas Cowboys are primed to throw these young defensive ends straight into the fire.

Who are the leading candidates to at least have a rotational spot on the defensive line?

Rookie edge rusher Bradlee Anae figures to be in the rotation as his pure grit and motor will instantly win over the coaching staff and fans. I am imagining the backup tackles are going to have their hands full during camp with this guy. I can already see the T-shirts with “an eye for Anae” phrase across the front.

Pass rusher Aldon Smith is the unknown as he has been away from football for such a long time now. He looks to be in great shape but football requires more than just physique. I am interested to see how well his body responds to the rigors of the game.

Defensive end Jalen Jelks, Joe Jackson, and Ron’Dell Carter now have a legitimate shot at making this team if the front office decides not to bring in anyone else. I think it is unwise to go into the season with questions about your pass rush but I think this new coaching staff is going to be better at scheming and creating opportunities than the old staff.

My eye is going to be on defensive lineman Dorance Armstrong. This is the time in a player’s career where he has to put it all together to continue their career and Armstrong just might have enough to be a regular in the rotation.

Armstrong was active for 15 games last year and only registered two sacks in his limited opportunities but how many snaps were the Cowboys and their coaching staff trying to save their jobs going to take away from Robert Quinn and DeMarcus Lawrence? Don’t forget Michael Bennett instantly received more playing time upon arrival because of his experience.

If the Cowboys are going to bring in a veteran with a reduced salary, there are still a few available options that won’t break the bank. Pass rusher Markus Golden has the unusual unrestricted tag placed on him meaning that he will automatically revert back to the New York Giants if he doesn’t find a suitor soon.

All the Dallas Cowboys have to offer is roughly $4.5 million dollars to get him away from a division rival. Did I mention that Golden had 10 sacks and 37 solo tackles last year for New York? Quinn parlayed his 11.5 sacks last year into a very lucrative contract this offseason.

Free-agent defensive end Ezekiel Ansah is another name that is surprisingly never talked about. Ansah had an ugly divorce from the Detroit Lions after they selected him fifth overall in the 2013 NFL Draft.

The injury bug hit Ansah hard but this guy has shown when healthy, he could put up some big numbers. His only Pro Bowl year came in 2015 when he put up 14.5 sacks. He subsequently played the franchise tag game with Detroit before he landed in Seattle last year.

A free agent flier on a 31-year-old with high production ability and a light price tag could be what the Dallas Cowboys are looking for. He only played 11 games for the Seahawks last year netting 2.5 sacks and forcing 2 fumbles but the risk might be worth the reward.

No matter how you dice it, the Dallas Cowboys could and should be on the lookout for help on the edge. You can never have enough pass rushers as this year looks like it could be a battle of attrition. I just hope the Dallas Cowboys have enough men to finish the fight.