Jerry Jones has made his chief goal loud and clear this offseason: He wants the Dallas Cowboys' defense to be able to stop the run, and he is ostensibly willing to do whatever it takes to make it happen.
At least, that's what he's told the media. In reality, the Cowboys are set to rely on a few middling additions to fix what was one of the worst run defenses in the league last season.
While Rashan Gary and Dee Winters will get most of the attention among the Cowboys' acquisitions in the front seven, defensive tackle Otito Ogbonnia will be a crucial piece. If he can't make an impact, Dallas might not be able to dig itself out of the nightmare that destroyed its 2025 campaign.
Dallas Cowboys are relying on Otito Ogbonnia to help fix run defense in 2026
While it improved slightly at the end of the season, the Cowboys' run defense was abysmal in 2025. They ranked 30th in the league in defensive EPA (Expected Points Added) per rush attempt allowed, per Sumer Sports.
When filtered for early downs, the picture becomes even worse. Dallas allowed 0.05 EPA per rush on early downs, ranking 31st in the NFL.
Translation? The Cowboys couldn't stop the run, even when they knew it was coming. Opposing teams racked up over 2,000 rushing yards and 24 rushing touchdowns against them. Without this fatal flaw, Dallas likely would have been a playoff team, given their offensive prowess.
You would think that, after a season like that, they would have spent significant resources on improving the interior of the defensive line. But Ogbonnia, a former fifth-round draft pick, is set to be the only new starter in the unit.
Ogbonnia spent the first four seasons of his career with the Los Angeles Chargers. At 6-foot-4 and 320 pounds, he has the size to hold up at multiple positions across the interior defensive line. He hasn't been a full-time starter for most of his career, but he was a key piece in the Chargers' rotation.
Unfortunately, he hasn't exactly stood out as a run defender. He logged PFF run defense grades below 50 in each of his first three seasons before improving slightly in 2025. However, his strong frame and physicality suggest he could improve against the run.
The Cowboys will certainly hope he does so. He'll likely be a starter in five-man fronts, lining up alongside Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark on the interior. If Ogbonnia is a clear weak link, offenses will target him.
He'll need to be strong against the run for Dallas to see the improvements they expect in 2026.
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