3 biggest areas of weakness on the Cowboys’ 2022 roster
By Mike Luciano
1. Defensive Line
While the Cowboys did make a solid draft choice by using a second-round pick on Sam Williams, that will not fix a unit that has lost some of their big heavy-hitters in the offseason. Even with as good as Parsons was as a pass rusher, even he can’t lift this unit up by himself.
Randy Gregory is now in Denver, meaning that Demarcus Lawrence and his 9.5 sacks over the last two years will be the unquestioned leader of the unit. With Dante Fowler still a question mark production-wise and Dorance Armstrong potentially in line to start, Dallas is much worse in this area.
The Dallas Cowboys need to improve their pass rush.
The interior isn’t much better. Osa Odighizuwa and Neville Gallimore are expected to take steps forward, but that won’t move the needle much collectively. Trysten Hill is on his last legs, as the former second-round pick has yet to prove he can be an impact defender in the pros.
Getting quality pass rushers is much easier said than done, but Dan Quinn will need to earn his paycheck this year. Can Quinn generate consistent pressure despite so many youngsters and backups in elevated roles? If the answer is no, that could be ugly for Dallas’ contention chances.
