After an unprecedented level of incompetence by the Dallas Cowboys‘ front office forced them to lose out on Randy Gregory, they are now stuck with a hole at edge rusher. They added some depth pieces in Dante Fowler Jr. and brought back Dorance Armstrong, but they certainly need more in order to keep up the defensive turnaround they did last year.
As always the Cowboys did not bother signing any of the top-tier edge rushers after they lost Gregory, so now they must look to the draft for a long-term solution. Luckily, there seem to be plenty of great options throughout the draft that could step in and help out Week 1. The problem remains that with so many gaps to fill (offensive line, defensive line, tight end, etc), who will Dallas prioritize? Here are some edge rusher options for the Cowboys in the NFL Draft.
3 defensive end options the Cowboys can target to replace Randy Gregory
3. Sam Williams, Ole Miss
The first edge rusher that should interest the Cowboys is someone that can be selected on day two or three. This would allow the team to target a much-needed offensive lineman on day one. This DE is Sam Williams from Ole Miss. Williams has second-round talent but his off-field concerns could push him to the fourth.
Williams is a versatile defender who can play multiple spots in defensive coordinator Dan Quinn’s defense. But, he is best fit as an edge rusher chasing after the quarterback. Quinn and the Cowboys have already shown plenty of interest in Williams in the pre-draft process and even offered him one of their coveted 30 pre-draft visits.
This past season at Ole Miss, Williams recorded 31 solo tackles, four forced fumbles, and an outstanding 12.5 sacks. He did this playing in the SEC against some of the top offensive lineman in the nation.
Williams is a great mix of speed and strength which helps him win as a pass-rusher but he needs to find a go-to pass-rush move. He ran a 4.46-second 40-yard dash at the NFL combine which is outstanding for a 261-pound player.
His talent and traits should land him somewhere on day twom and the Cowboys would love for him to fall to their third-round pick (88th overall).
2. Nik Bonitto, Oklahoma
Since edge rusher is not the Cowboys’ top need, they are going to have to find some steals at the position later in the draft. Nik Bonitto from Oklahoma is another player that should not be picked until day two and can give Dallas an immediate upgrade on defense. While many focus on day one and top-10 prospects, there’s no denying that some of the best talent in the NFL has come from later rounds in the draft.
In his senior season at OU, Bonitto had 39 total tackles, seven sacks, and one forced fumble. The former Sooner is another athletic rusher that uses speed and bend to get to the quarterback. Despite being small for the position at 248 pounds, he still competes in the run game as well.
Bonitto is a Pro Football Focus darling, putting up number such as a 27.9% pass rush win rate, 93 pressures, and the aforementioned 94.0 pass-rush grade for his career. But, it is not just his pass-rush ability that makes him effective. He also has some ability in coverage if need be.
The NFL Combine did wonders for Bonitto as he posted a 4.54-second 40-yard dash, a 120″ broad jump, and his overall testing compares favorably to future Hall of Famer Von Miller. Elite speed-rushers are hard to come by in the NFL, but if Bonitto is available on day two the Cowboys should not be afraid to pounce.
1. Boye Mafe, Minnesota
You probably realize by now that I am targeting all of the freak athletes for the Cowboys. Being able to do things on a football field that can not be coached is what makes a future star player. For example, the hunger and versatility of Micah Parsons cannot be taught. His versatility was power all his own.
I believe enough in Dan Quinn and the developmental staff that they can turn these elite athletes into great NFL players. Boye Mafe from Minnesota is another player that fits that mold. Mafe stands 6-4, 265 pounds, and can run like the wind.
The most impressive testing results from Mafe were his 4.53-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine and 41.5″ vertical jump at Minnesota’s Pro Day – both of which are crazy for a 261-pound player. Mafe was initially lower on the draft boards, but he continues to soar up after his impressive testing. Now, he’s expected to be drafted no later than the second round.
His Senior Bowl week was phenomenal as the former Golden Gopher was named National Team Player of the Game. He had similar success during the 2021 college season, with 10 tackles for loss, 7 sacks, and being named All-Big Ten second team by the media.
It would be great if Mafe were still available in the second round for Dallas, but it seems more likely that he would be a great trade-back candidate for the team if they decided to move off the 24th overall pick.
Ultimately, the loss of Gregory presents the Cowboys with a hole that needs to be filled, and any of these edge rushers would be great additions to the defense. We know that Parsons plans to move around the field next year, but a permanent starting fill in at defensive end is a big need.
