The Dallas Cowboys are working towards hiring Mike Zimmer as their defensive coordinator. Zimmer hasn't officially signed a contract, but he's the Cowboys pick among the candidates they interviewed so an agreement should be reached before long.
Zimmer beat out Cowboys defensive line coach Aden Durde, who has since been hired as the Seahawks defensive coordinator in a surprising move, as well as ex-Commanders coach Ron Rivera and Jets safeties coach Marquand Manuel.
Zimmer will bring a refreshing change to Dallas' defense. Not only is he more adaptable than his predecessor Dan Quinn, but he's shown a willigness to adapt. That could make all the difference, as Quinn was notoriously stubborn in terms of sticking to his guns, including against the vaunted Kyle Shanahan coaching tree.
As far as the Cowboys roster is concerned, multiple players will benefit from Zimmer's arrival. Conversely, let's play devil's advocate and underline some Cowboys who are officially on the hot seat with Zimmer as the DC.
3. CB Eric Scott Jr.
Our friends over at The Viking Age gave us great insight into Zimmer's coaching history. Essentially, the ex-Vikings coach doesn't love young players.
That doesn't mean he won't play first- and second-year players, but it took former cornerback Trae Waynes three years to crack the starting lineup as a former first-round pick. Waynes didn't start more than eight games until his third season. That is absolutely mind-boggling and it doesn't bode well for Eric Scott Jr.
Dan Quinn's departure served as an unfriendly reminder that the Cowboys traded a 2024 fifth-round pick to draft Scott in the sixth round last April. Many draft prognosticators had Scott going undrafted, but Quinn liked Scott's physical intangibles. Quinn had a major influence in Scott's selection.
Despite the aggressive trade-up, Scott didn't play a single snap as a rookie. Worse than that is he wasn't active for a single game. Unlike fourth-round pick Viliami Fehoko, Scott was healthy all season.
Veterans Stephon Gilmore and Jourdan Lewis are free agents, but Scott is still behind Trevon Diggs, DaRon Bland and Nahshon Wright in the pecking order. That doesn't even account for Gilmore potentially re-signing or the Cowboys using a high draft pick on a corner.
Scott could make a strong impression on Zimmer, but his odd disappearing act this season and Zimmer's track record with young players are a bad omen for the 25-year-old corner.
2. LB Damone Clark
Unlike Scott, Damone Clark saw ample playing time this season. Of the Cowboys defensive starters, only Stephon Gilmore, DaRon Bland, Micah Parsons, Malik Hooker and Jayron Kearse logged more snaps than Clark's 784.
Clark had some strong games in 2023, but he didn't progress at the rate fans hoped after his promising rookie year. He was largely outperformed by Markquese Belle, who's a safety by trade and converted to LB after Leighton Vander Esch's season-ending neck injury.
Zimmer's arrival is great news for the Cowboys linebacker room. He's most always gotten the most out of the position. Eric Kendricks Anthony Barr and Eric Kendricks are his most notable success stories. Zimmer recongizes the importance of having strong off-ball linebacker play.
If 2023 was any indication, Clark isn't ready to be a full-time starter. Whether the Cowboys splurge on a free agent or select a LB high in the draft (or both) this offseason, Clark will have more competition than in either of his first two seasons. His experience as a starer will work to his benefit, but Zimmer's history of wanting high-level LB play suggests the LSU product could enter training camp on the hot seat.
1. DE Sam Williams
Zimmer is credited with the development of Danielle Hunter and Everson Griffen, who formed one of the most vaunted edge rushing duos in the NFL for a period of time. Both Hunter and Griffen made two Pro Bowls and posted over 60 sacks under Zimmer's watch.
By and large, Zimmer has done great work with defensive ends. He'll likely work wonders with Micah Parsons, who finished third in Defensive Player of the Year voting, but Sam Williams could be a different story.
Zimmer is a no-nonsense coach. He isn't here to become your friend. That's not to say players don't respect him or that he doesn't form close relationships with his players, but Williams' volatile style of play and vibrant personality could clash with the 67-year-old.
It feels like Zimmer and Williams could be a match made in heaven or a disaster partnership with no in between. That's a scary thought, as Williams enters a pivotal year three in 2024 with the potential to play the most snaps of his career being that Dorance Armstrong and Dante Fowler are free agents.
Williams has flashed oodles of potential in his first two seasons, but he's been just as reckless and undisciplined. If the 2022 second-round pick doesn't clean up his penalties, he could find himself in Zimmer's doghouse.