The Dallas Cowboys were apparently very unsatisfied with how their pass rush stable looked without Micah Parsons, as two of their more impactful offseason moves involved acquiring Rashan Gary from the Green Bay Packers and drafting Malachi Lawrence in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
This has put veterans like James Houston on the back burner, as his lack of run defense has put him in such a limited role that it seems unlikely that he will be a very big part of the defense moving forward.
However, with OTAs coming soon, Houston has the chance to show the Cowboys that the addition of all these new pass rushers is not the curtain call for his Dallas career.
A strong showing in OTAs, which could very well happen for a veteran player like him, might be all that Houston needs to show the Cowboys that his abilities as a designated pass rusher are good enough to beat out other role players and make the 53-man roster.
James Houston can make Dallas Cowboys' 53-man roster with strong OTA performance
With Jadeveon Clowney still a free agent, Houston technically has the most sacks of any returning player on the roster. Even 2025 second-rounder Donovan Ezeiruaku, who also faces questions about his ability to defend the run, wasn't as effective at finishing plays as a rookie.
Houston's issues stem from the fact that his run defense is borderline unplayably bad at times, meaning that there are only a few situations where he can get on the field. Is that worth rostering him over someone with more every-down appeal or high upside?
Keeping Houston could also bring him into conflict with rookie Malachi Lawrence, who also needs to prove he can stop the run at an NFL level. However, getting to the quarterback may be the most essential defensive skill in the game today, and Houston keeps showing that he can provide that.
The good news for Houston is that his direct competition seems to be a pair of disappointing recent Day 2 picks in Marist Liufau and Sam Williams. Neither of them looks like a long-term piece in this defense, and Houston's speed off the edge could convince Christian Parker to keep him around.
In a defense coached by someone from a Philadelphia scheme that got some use out of players with Houston's skillset, it's not unreasonable to imagine a world where Houston makes this roster as a backup to Lawrence and Rashan Gary, causing havoc on passing downs while he's at it.
But he'll need to prove that he still has what it takes in OTAs.
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