The Dallas Cowboys have spent a good chunk of change in this offseason as they try to get their defense out of the pits they found themselves in, but Jerry Jones' decision to remake the roster has led to veterans like Dante Fowler Jr. parting ways for greener pastures.
Fowler became the second Cowboys pass rusher in as many seasons to leave for the Seattle Seahawks, joining Demarcus Lawrence. While Lawrence was signed on a multi-year deal, Fowler opted for a one-year contract that made Dallas look quite miserly for letting him go.
Pro Football Focus listed the Seahawks' signing of Fowler as one of the more underappreciated moves of the 2026 offseason, pointing out that his higher-than-average pass rush win rate belies his total sack production and the run defense that has kept getting him steady paychecks. In the name of going young, Jones may have let someone who can raise the floor of this defense leave for cheap.
Jerry Jones let "underappreciated" Dante Fowler join Demarcus Lawrence with Seahawks
Fowler's three sacks last season were a bit of a misnomer, as he has never been someone who has piled up double-digit sack seasons every year. His blend of run defense and pressure is worth paying for with a cheap one-year contract, even as he enters his advanced age. Seattle, which lost Boye Mafe in free agency, was likely thrilled when it became clear they could sign him.
Dallas' edge room is not deep enough that they can just assume everything will be sunshine and rainbows. Donovan Ezeiruaku and first-round rookie Malachi Lawrence have oodles of potential, but both struggle defending the run. Rashan Gary can play the run, but is he a great schematic fit? Are Sam Williams and Jame Houston adequate depth?
While it is incredibly hard for a team like the Seahawks to repeat as champions, especially without an All-World quarterback in Sam Darnold, that defense is so nasty that they need to be at the front of the list when discussing hypothetical 2026 champions. Lawrence helping lead that defensive line is one of the main reasons why.
Fowler recorded 10.5 sacks on a Commanders team that made it just one game shy of the Super Bowl in 2025, and if he provides anything close to that production with Seattle in the 2026 season, Jerry Jones will need to answer fans as to why he made this penny-pinching financial decision.
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