Cowboys set meeting with veteran DE who'd be perfect final piece for Mike Zimmer

The Dallas Cowboys have finally emerged from their annual offseason hibernation. In the last 24 hours, they have made CeeDee Lamb the second-richest wide receiver in the game and have met with veteran running back Dalvin Cook.

Only one of those moves is worthy of applause (spoiler, it's not Cook) but it seems the Cowboys are not done upgrading as they work to shrink their roster to 53 players before Tuesday's 3 p.m. CT deadline. After signing Lamb and meeting with Cook, the front office has shifted its attention to the defensive side of the ball.

Per ESPN's Todd Archer, Dallas will meet with free-agent pass rusher Tyus Bowser. Injuries have limited Bowser to just nine games in the last two seasons, so this is very much up the Cowboys' wheelhouse in terms of targeting reclamation projects, for lack of a better term, in free agency.

While Bowser's injury history is a cause for concern, he would be a perfect final addition to Mike Zimmer's defensive end group.

Cowboys rumors: Dallas to meet with free agent DE Tyus Bowser

A second-round pick of the Ravens in 2017, Bowser did not play at all last season. There's some mystery behind Bowser's absence. Ravens head coach Jim Harbaugh said Bowser was expected to return for the start of the season. It's possible Bowser needed the year off to get fully healthy following his torn Achilles suffered in January of 2021 and undergoing knee surgery after the 2022 season.

A rotation player for his first four years in Baltimore, Bowser broke out in 2021 to the tune of seven sacks, which led the team, and career-highs in QB hits (15) snaps (834), pressures (40) and a 76.4 pass-rush grade, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). He added 30 defensive stops, which are tackles that constitute a "failure" for the offense.

Bowser seemingly feels ready to play for the 2024 season. This meeting is a dart throw by the Cowboys, but perhaps they can catch lightning in a bottle with the Texas native. He's a versatile edge who can get after quarterback and drop back in coverage if need be.

Zimmer's edge rotation will likely comprise of Micah Parsons, DeMarcus Lawrence, Marshawn Kneeland, Carl Lawson and Chauncey Golston, who figures to play inside and out. There may not be room on the 53 for Bowser. Assuming his medicals check out, though, Dallas would do well to sign him to the practice squad as an extra depth option for Zimmer.

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