The Dallas Cowboys have made it abundantly clear that they will be looking to lean on their younger players to lift them up this season. However, with the loss of EDGE Sam Williams to a torn ACL, rookie Marshawn Kneeland’s time to produce may be coming much sooner than expected.
Cowboys Expected To Lean on Rookie Marshawn Kneeland Even More in 2024
Entering his third season in the NFL, Williams was expected to take a big leap and be an even bigger part of the Cowboys’ pass rush. With both Dorance Armstrong and Dante Fowler leaving to reunite with Dan Quinn on the Washington Commanders, Williams was expected to benefit the most from the departures.
“We had big plans for him,” said defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer on 97.6 The Ticket. “He was going to play an awful lot, probably, I’m guessing, 70-75 percent of the time.
“We’ll just have to move some chess pieces around and try to figure out other ways to do things. With us moving (Micah) Parsons around a little bit, (Williams) was going to be out there with Parsons and (DeMarcus Lawrence).“
However, his season ended before it even started, forcing the Cowboys to change course and turn elsewhere to find pass-rush production. Now that attention turns to Kneeland, the former Western Michigan star whom Dallas selected in the second round.
Kneeland always factored into the plans this season, with the young rookie drawing comparisons to Lawrence given their similarities. But now, that acclimation period doesn’t look like it will be a gradual one.
“Marshawn Kneeland has done a really nice job,” said Zimmer. “He would’ve played anyway, but I think he’s going to end up having to play a lot now.”
Kneeland is known for his relentless motor, willingness to be physical in the running game, and aggressive style, which makes him a perfect fit in Dallas.
Watching new #DallasCowboys DL Marshawn Kneeland it’s hard to ignore the uncanny resemblance to DeMarcus Lawrence.
Dude is a menace in running game, plays with a tremendous motor, and the effort is relentless. #CowboysNation is going to love this kid. pic.twitter.com/DKbY5ePzll
— Tony Catalina (@Tony_Catalina) April 27, 2024
He finished his college career with 13 sacks, 148 tackles, 27.5 tackles for loss, and three forced fumbles. And while the pass-rush numbers aren’t eye-popping, his tools, intangibles, and raw untapped ability are what excites the Cowboys the most.
Dallas may look to add veteran free agents to the room to help with the loss of Williams, but it’s clear that Kneeland will be called upon much more frequently and perhaps earlier than anyone had originally planned.
Cowboys’ Depth Chart at EDGE
When looking at the Cowboys’ defensive line group, two names popped out immediately. Micah Parsons is one of the most feared pass rushers in the NFL, and running mate DeMarcus Lawrence is one of the best all-around defensive linemen in the NFL. The combination of the two gives the Cowboys a formidable one-two punch, but beyond that is a mystery right now.
Kneeland, Tyrus Wheat, Viliami Fehoko Jr., Durrell Johnson, and Byron Vaughns round out the EDGE group, which, as a whole, provides little to no NFL production. This group will be given every chance to prove they belong in the rotation, but with so much uncertainty and inexperience, it would appear that a free-agent signing of some kind will be made to ease the minds of the Cowboys’ decision-makers.
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The interior features a bit more experience, led by defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa, but again, it is a room filled with unknowns and little production. Other names that factor into the mix are last year’s first-round pick, Mazi Smith, followed by Chauncey Golston (who was once an EDGE for the Cowboys before kicking inside), Carl Davis Jr., Justin Rogers, and Denzel Daxon.
On paper, despite the two names at the top of this group, the defensive line as a whole may be one of the thinnest groups on the Cowboys’ roster. And in the NFL where rushing the passer is paramount to success, Dallas has their work cut out to be a respected unit.