As training camp rolls on and preseason games continue to come and go, teams around the NFL begin to realize what they do and don’t have on their rosters. The Dallas Cowboys have opted to address the issue before the regular season rolls around.
With injuries and lack of depth on the defensive line seemingly plaguing Dallas throughout training camp, the Cowboys have spent the last 24 hours adding veteran pieces in hopes of solidifying an important position group.
Cowboys Add Much-Needed Depth With Jordan Phillips and Carl Lawson
In news that broke late last night, the Cowboys and New York Giants executed a rare intra-division trade. Dallas received defensive tackle Jordan Phillips and a 2026 seventh-round pick from New York for a 2026 sixth-round pick.
New #Cowboys DL Jordan Phillips:
– 6’6” 342 lbs
– 62 career starts
– 24 career sacks
– 36 TFL
– 51 QB hitsSpent last two seasons in Buffalo before signing with the Giants this offseason. Upgrade to an iDL that needed it. pic.twitter.com/nI4wUZ0IDE
— Tony Catalina (@Tony_Catalina) August 15, 2024
Osa Odighizuwa is the only established playmaker on the interior of the defensive line. While the team hopes that Mazi Smith can round into form, the Cowboys can look to Phillips to bring stability and production to the middle of a defensive line with far more questions than answers.
Phillips is 6’6” and 341 pounds and has 62 career starts in the NFL, tallying 24 sacks, 36 tackles for loss, and 51 total quarterback hits. He spent the last two seasons with the Buffalo Bills before signing with the Giants this offseason. He comes to Dallas figuring to play a larger role than he was on track for in New York thanks to his experience and production.
The #Cowboys have now signed Carl Lawson. Good move. https://t.co/x8wc1hyKEq
— Tony Catalina (@Tony_Catalina) August 15, 2024
While the move was applauded by Cowboys fans, Dallas wasn’t done adding to the defensive line. Early Thursday morning, it was reported that the Cowboys were also signing edge rusher Carl Lawson. The dynamic pass rusher worked out for the team two weeks ago. While Dallas didn’t opt to sign him then, it’s clear the team kept its eye on him.
Lawson has tallied 27 career sacks, 119 total tackles, 28 tackles for loss, and 107 quarterback hits. He is big, physical, and a strong presence both in the passing game and in run defense. The fit always felt like one that made sense, and now, with a little over three weeks until the regular season kicks off, the team officially brought him into the fold.
What These Additions Mean For Cowboys’ Defense
When new defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer was hired to join the Cowboys, it was clear that changes were coming to the Dallas’ defense. While the former defensive coordinator, Dan Quinn, now the Washington Commanders’ head coach, was respected and well-liked in the locker room, a change was sorely needed.
Many felt the unit maxed out its potential under Quinn, and the addition of Zimmer would bring a fresh voice and new approach to bolster a group that has looked elite for stretches of recent seasons. With those changes comes a vastly different approach to coaching and philosophy, and to succeed in this new system, some transactions would need to be made.
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Quinn prided his defense on having multiple pass rushers who were able to pin their ears back and get after the quarterback. And while Zimmer will have similar hopes, he puts much more of an onus on stopping the run, being physical at the point of attack, and more detailed in his defensive approach.
The Cowboys have struggled to find quality play in the interior of their defensive line, and for Zimmer, who likes a true 1-technique in the middle of his group, that’s a problem. Dallas didn’t have that type of player with experience on its roster until the signing of Phillips. He now will be able to be a force in the middle, clogging up running lanes and taking on blocks to free up others trying to make the play.
It isn’t a glorious job, but it is vital to this defense’s success. Dallas hopes that last year’s first-round pick, Smith, will grow into that player, and it may give him the starting nod for Week 1. However, after three weeks of camp and one full preseason game, Zimmer and Co. identified a hole on the roster and attacked it with the trade.
As for pass rushers, the Cowboys have had an embarrassment of riches. With Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence at the top of the food chain, several others stepped in and made plays, too.
But fast-forward to the present day and both Dorance Armstrong and Dante Fowler followed Quinn to Washington. The next man up, who was expected to fill the gap, Sam Williams, suffered a knee injury that ruled him out for the entire season. A group that was just one of the deepest in the league now has two established stars and several question marks.
Dallas decision-makers are excited about this year’s second-round pick, Marshawn Kneeland, but he is an unproven commodity. That unknown, coupled with a serious lack of NFL-level depth behind him, prompted the Cowboys to add Lawson to the mix.
Lawson has been productive during his career, with most of his issues stemming from availability rather than talent. When on the field, Lawson can get after the quarterback and is strong in the run game.
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Now, with the veteran’s addition, the Cowboys have four pass rushers they feel good about, allowing them to have a two-deep rotation on game day that they believe can be productive.
Zimmer is bringing a different style of defense than Dallas is accustomed to. With the addition of these two veterans, he is one step closer to putting together a group he thinks can get the job done in 2024.
