It is not hyperbolic so say the Dallas Cowboys could have the best defensive end room in football this season. Assuming Micah Parsons gets signed before Week 1, the EDGE group could be six deep when accounting for Dante Fowler, Donovan Ezeiruaku, Sam Williams, Marshawn Kneeland and one of Payton Turner or James Houston.
Parsons' hold-in has created ample opportunity and players have taken advantage, including Kneeland, who came down with the first interception in Oxnard.
However, Donovan Ezeiruaku has been unstoppable in his first NFL training camp. Patrik Walker of the Cowboys' official website had a glowing review of the 2025 second-round pick.
"As far as rookies go, (Ezeiruaku) is one of the best pass rush technicians I've seen," Walker wrote. "Ezeiruaku has so many pass rush moves, and each of them look so smooth, detailed and effective I was left wondering if I was watching AI and not an actualy human. He had several pressures on Day 2, and it makes you wonder what he can be once he actually improves as the season(s) roll along."
Cowboys rookie Donovan Ezeiruaku already turning heads at training camp
The draft community universally praised Dallas for nabbing Ezeiruaku with the No. 44 overall pick. It's unclear why he fell that far - perhaps that he's undersized for an EDGE - but a plethora of experts projected the Boston College product to go in the first round in their final mock drafts.
Ezieuraku is simply that kind of talent. He terrorized the ACC last season en route to becoming a First-team All-American and ACC Defensive Player of the Year. He ranked second in the FBs with 16.5 sacks and third with 20.5 tackles for loss.
The 21-year-old has won with speed and even power in the early stages of camp. Joseph Hoyt of the Dallas Morning News recorded a play on Thursday where Ezeiruaku walked 307-pound tackle Asim Richards into Dak Prescott's lap.
While Ezeiruaku's pass-rushing prowess is apparent, ESPN's Todd Archer noted that the rookie was "just about everywhere against the run and the pass" in Wednesday's practice. Pads will offer a stronger glimpse into Ezeiruaku's ability to defend the run. If he can do that at even an adequate level, he might be impossible to keep out of the starting lineup.
Regardless if Ezeiruaku cracks the starting lineup in Week 1, he seems primed to make a huge impact in year one. That could change everything for the Cowboys' defense.