It took longer than expected, but the Dallas Cowboys hired Mike Zimmer as their defensive coordinator. You have to think Zimmer will want to bring in his own assistants. We don't expect a complete overhaul of the defensive staff (Al Harris obviously isn't going anywhere), but small-scale changes could follow.
That's the nature of the beast in the NFL. A new coach comes in and wants his own coaches. That explains why Dan Quinn brought Cowboys defensive pass game coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. with him to Washington as his defensive coordinator.
Similarly, Zimmer could want the Cowboys to take a look at his former players. With that in mind, let's underline some free agents with ties to Zimmer Dallas could target once the new league year opens in mid-March.
3. DE Ifeadi Odenigbo
The Cowboys have multiple holes in their pass rush rotation to patch up. Dorance Armstrong and Dante Fowler are free agents. The two edge rushers racked up a combined 26 sacks (16 from Armstrong) over the last two seasons.
All signs point to 2022 second-round pick Sam Williams jumping into a prominent role, but he won't be enough to offset the losses of Armstrong and Fowler, assuming both leave. With that in mind, Ifeadi Odenigbo could step in as the fourth or fifth member of the DE rotation.
A former seventh-round pick of Zimmer's Vikings in 2017, Odenigbo inked a one-year $1.08 million with the Jets last offseason. Unfortunately, Odenigbo was placed on season-ending injured reserve in August with an undisclosed leg injury.
Odenigbo would be a risky signing coming off a major injury, but that is right up the Cowboys wheelhouse (see Terence Steele and Michael Gallup's extensions). He enjoyed his best seasons under Zimmer. Between 2017 and 2018, Odenigbo posted 10.5 sacks, 28 QB hits and 10 tackles for loss.
He could be worth a dart throw to reunite him with Zimmer.
2. DT Linval Joseph
It's anyone's guess what the Cowboys defensive tackle room will look like come training camp. It's safe to say, though, that it will feature a plethora of new faces. Zimmer emphasizes stopping the run, so we expect Dallas to add an interior defender in the draft and potentially up to two new faces in free agency.
Linval Joseph could be a smart add to the backend of the IDL rotation. Joseph signed with the Vikings in Zimmer's first year as head coach and he became a force to be reckoned with under the newly-minted Cowboys DC.
That was a long time ago, but Joseph, who signed with the Bills as a free agent in November, could relish the thought of reuniting with Zimmer. Now 35 years old, Joseph is nearing the end of his career, but he would add a big body and needed veteran presence to a defense that oftentimes laid down amidst adversity.
Remember when the Cowboys signed a 40-year-old Jason Peters to the practice squad two years ago? That proved to be a genius move. The team could get similar value with another grizzled vet in Joseph even if he's only a part-time player.
1. DE Yannick Ngakoue
Star pass rusher Danielle Hunter, who blossomed into a game-wrecker under Zimmer's watchful eye in Minnesota, is a free agent. However, Spotrac lists Hunter's at $20 million per year. With extensions needed for Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and Micah Parsons, signing Hunter isn't feasible for the Cowboys.
Coming off a down year with the Bears, Yannick Ngakoue will be much more affordable. The Vikings actually traded for Ngakoue while Zimmer was still the head coach, so the 67-year-old clearly values what he brings to the table as a pass rusher.
Ngakoue has never quite tapped into his full potential, but he's been disruptive on the edge throughout his career. He's averaged 8.6 sacks, 17.8 QB hits and 8.8 tackles for loss per season in eight years in the NFL. His 21 forced fumbles are nothing to sneeze at either.
Still just 28 years old, Ngakoue could fill the Dante Fowler role on Zimmer's defense in 2023. He isn't as versatile as Armstrong in terms of being able to play special teams and shift inside on passing downs, but his ability to rush the passer is undeniable.
A DE rotation of Parsons, DeMarcus Lawrence, Sam Williams and Ngakoue would give Zimmer ample firepower to terrorize quarterbacks.