4 underrated Cowboys players who could make a massive impact next season

2. Sam Williams, EDGE

Dan Quinn did an excellent job as the defensive coordinator in Dallas but his last game with them was a forgettable one. The Cowboys had no answers for the Green Bay Packers offense and that led to some optimism when he left. That might have dissipated when he started signing several free agents away from Dallas.

That includes Dorance Armstrong and Dante Fowler, Jr. Armstrong had 16 sacks in the past two seasons, and Fowler added 10 during that same time frame. With them out, the Cowboys are going to need someone to step up and Sam Williams should be that guy.

Williams, a second-round pick in 2022 out of Ole Miss, has 8.5 sacks in his career. Despite his limited snaps, he put up decent numbers and was the 37th highest-ranked edge rusher according to PFF.

Due to his lack of time on the field, Williams has been highly underrated. He’s also taken some heat for drawing penalties on special teams but oftentimes, he’s getting himself in trouble due to his aggressiveness and ability to get past blockers — more than once he drew a roughing penalty when he nearly blocked a punt.

In 2024, Williams should spend less time as a special teamer and more time in the base defense. That will lead to him making a major impact, and he might top his career total in sacks this year alone.