The Dallas Cowboys are using the past week as an opportunity to improve the depth on their roster, as they brought in a trio of UFL players headlined by former second-round pick Denzel Mims. The Cowboys are also bringing in a defensive player, signing a pass rusher who may have some upside that Christian Parker can get out of him.
The Cowboys agreed to sign Charles Snowden, who spent the last two seasons with the Las Vegas Raiders before Klint Kubiak's offseason makeover led to him getting a pink slip. Dallas apparently saw enough from him in a tryout to hand him a chance to make the 53-man roster. His experience could be key in that regard.
While Snowden may start on the outside looking in as far as his pursuit of the 53-man roster is concerned, he has more than enough physical talent and run defense on the edge to win out over many of the other fringe players on this Dallas roster.
Cowboys sign former Raiders DE Charles Snowden in free agency
Right now, the only edge rushers who have locked in spots in the starting lineup are a pair of former top picks in Malachi Lawrence and Donovan Ezeiruaku in addition to trade acquisition Rashan Gary. Beyond that, James Houstan and disappointing second-rounder Sam Williams will fight it out with Snowden, as rookie LT Overton is more of a classic 3-4 defensive lineman.
Snowden, a former undrafted free agent out of Virginia who spent years bouncing around before the Raiders found him, managed to pile up 4.5 sacks in the last two years as a rotational rusher and occasional spot starter. His PFF grade over 70.0 and quality run defense show that his value may lie as an edge-setter instead of as a pure pass rusher like Ezeiruaku.
As Jerry Jones made very clear when the team traded away Micah Parsons and managed to retain both Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark, this team is hellbent on trying to stop the run. Snowden as a backup end would make up for Lawrence and Ezeiruaku's problems in that area, whereas Williams and Houstan would be redundant.
Snowden has the ability to play passably on the edge, and with the lack of depth behind the young designated pass rushers, would it be that much of a surprise if he ends up earning his star and making it on the final 53-man unit?
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