The Dallas Cowboys have 3 defensive tackles on the roster who could start for essentially all 32 teams with Quinnen Williams, Osa Odighizuwa and Kenny Clark.
All 3 also have massive contracts. Williams isn’t going anywhere, so it makes sense for the Cowboys to try and deal either Odighizuwa or Clark to free up salary cap space.
“We all know how much Jerry Jones values run defense,” Ballentine wrote. “But even the most dedicated to stopping the run would admit that paying three defensive tackles a combined $63 million against the cap next season isn’t wise roster-building. After trading for Quinnen Williams and acquiring Kenny Clark in the Micah Parsons trade, that’s exactly what’s happening with the trio of Williams, Clark, and Osa Odighizuwa. Williams is the latest addition, which makes it hard to see them trading him. Dealing Clark would free up $21.5 million, so he’s the most logical choice. But Odighizuwa’s ability as a pass-rusher and his age (27) make him worth more on the trade market.”
Trading for Clark & Williams Did Little to Fix Defense
The rational behind ending up with the trio of elite defensive tackles but missing stars everywhere else on the field has yet to be explained by the Cowboys, but we know the result — a 7-9-1 overall record, missing the playoffs for the 2nd consecutive season and having the 30th ranked defense in the NFL.
While the original sin here seems to be trading away Parsons, arguably the NFL’s elite defensive player, the Cowboys have yet to turn what they got back in return into anything substantive.
One thing to look forward to on defense for the Cowboys in 2026 is a new face in charger. The Cowboys fired defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus after 1 season and replaced him with 34-year-old former Philadelphia Eagles assistant Christian Parker.
“Cowboys zeroing in on Christian Parker as Cowboys defensive coordinator after a ‘very impressive’ in-person interview Wednesday, per sources,” ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler wrote on his official X account right before the hire. “Parker, 34, has been Philadelphia’s pass-game coordinator since 2024.”
Cowboys Have Pair of 1st Round Picks in 2026
If the Cowboys they don’t work out some kind of trade, it’s safe to assume they’ll use both the No. 12 overall and No. 20 overall pick in the 1st round of the 2026 NFL draft on defensive players.
In ESPN NFL draft expert Mel Kiper Jr.’s first mock draft, the Cowboys are projected to pick Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles at No. 12 overall and Miami defensive end Akheem Mesidor at No. 20 overall.
Styles, 6-foot-5 and 243 pounds, might be the rare player who could come in and probably tap into a Pro Bowl or All-Pro level of play from the moment he steps on the field — a true playmaker the Cowboys have been missing at inside linebacker.
“If you wanted to score points in 2025, all you needed was a matchup with the Cowboys’ defense,” Kiper wrote. “They allowed 30.1 points per game, the most in the league … Dallas could really use an impact player in the middle of the defense. Styles is a former safety, and it’s no surprise once you see his speed. He can close on ball carriers and pass catchers in a flash. With 174 tackles over the past two seasons, he’s a top-10 prospect for me.”
