The Dallas Cowboys are entering the 2025 NFL season with renewed urgency. The need to improve the run defense must be a top priority.
Despite an explosive offense and a fearsome edge rush led by Micah Parsons, the Cowboys finished 29th in run defense in 2024, surrendering over 137 rushing yards per game.
While re-signing defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa was a smart move, the Cowboys can’t rely solely on in-house talent.
With new defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus now leading the charge, Dallas must look at the trade market to solidify the interior line and bring stability to the defensive front.
Here are five defensive tackles the Cowboys could target via trade to strengthen their run defense.
Five Trade Targets (One Dream and Four Realistic Targets)
1. Derrick Brown – Carolina Panthers
Derrick Brown is a dream target and is one of the league’s premier run-stuffers. His presence would immediately transform the Cowboys’ defensive line.
The 2023 Pro Bowler, a torn meniscus kept him out in 2024, finished with over 100 tackles and consistently commanded double teams, freeing up linebackers to flow to the ball.
The Panthers are rebuilding and may be willing to listen to offers for veterans like Brown in exchange for draft capital.
Pairing him with Odighizuwa would give Dallas one of the best defensive tackle tandems in the NFL.
Trade Cost Estimate: 2026 2nd-round pick + 2026 4th-round pick
2. Grover Stewart – Indianapolis Colts
Grover Stewart is a realistic target and a true nose tackle who excels at clogging running lanes.
He brings size, toughness, and experience—exactly the traits the Cowboys’ defense has lacked on the interior.
With Matt Eberflus now calling plays in Dallas, it’s worth noting that Stewart played under Eberflus during his time as the Colts’ defensive coordinator.
That familiarity could make him an ideal target for the Cowboys’ scheme, which emphasizes discipline and gap integrity.
Trade Cost Estimate: 2025 4th-round pick
3. DJ Reader – Detroit Lions
The Lions added DJ Reader in free agency in 2024, but their depth at defensive tackle, especially with Alim McNeill’s emergence, might make Reader available for the right offer.
He’s a high-level run defender who excels in early downs and short-yardage situations.
Reader fits the mold of a Matt Eberflus-style interior lineman: high motor, strong at the point of attack, and technically sound.
He would help Dallas stop the run on first down and force teams into obvious passing situations.
Trade Cost Estimate: 2026 6th-round pick and Brock Hoffman
4. David Onyemata – Atlanta Falcons
David Onyemata is a realistic trade target, and, after a down year in Atlanta, he was pegged as a cut candidate, but the player cut was Grady Jarrett.
Atlanta, which is still in rebuild mode, could look to acquire draft assets to fill needs across the roster.
Dallas could make the call for Onyemata based off of his run-stopping prowess. He would be the type of player the Cowboys front office looks for as a low-cost, high-upside type of player.
The Falcons have depth at defensive tackle, so getting draft picks for a player who may not be in the long-term plans could be perfect for both sides.
Trade Cost Estimate: 2026 6th-round pick and the Steelers 2027 6th-round pick
5. Leki Fotu – Las Vegas Raiders
A low-profile target, Leki Fotu, could provide the Cowboys with rotational depth at a bargain.
He has shown flashes as a run defender and offers the kind of physical presence Dallas has been missing in the middle.
Fotu would be a smart, low-risk addition to add depth behind Osa Odighizuwa and possibly supplant Mazi Smith as the run-stopper.
Under Eberflus, he could thrive in a gap-disciplined, rotational role.
Trade Cost Estimate: 2025 6th or 7th-round pick
Why the Cowboys Must Act Now
Matt Eberflus‘ defensive philosophy centers around discipline, gap control, and toughness—attributes that start in the trenches.
#Cowboys DT Osa Odighizuwa is already finding areas to improve under the guidance of Matt Eberflus.
He will play for his third defensive coordinator in as many years, but believes this one is an upgrade.https://t.co/QvoMbQssAX
— Nathan Karseno ✭ (@nathankarseno) June 2, 2025
Acquiring a veteran run-stuffer would allow Eberflus to deploy his scheme to its full potential and help transform a weakness into a strength.
The Cowboys are positioned to contend in the NFC East, but can’t afford another season of poor run defense.
By targeting trade options like Derrick Brown, Grover Stewart, or DJ Reader, they can address a critical need and give their defense the balance it’s been looking for.
With Matt Eberflus now shaping the unit, the Cowboys must act decisively to bring in the kind of physical, disciplined defensive tackle that fits his vision.
If they do, 2025 could be the year Dallas finally stops the run and starts winning outside the regular season.
I’d be surprised if Dallas gave up any picks other than a 7th rounder. Absolutely not a premium pick as they already gave up a 3 Rd pick for Pickens. But they really need run support. Go Boys!
It wouldn’t hurt to add another 1 tech DT to the group, but I think we’ll be fine with who we have now!! Mazi Smith started getting better towards the end of last season, plus he gets to play at his normal weight for the 2nd year in a row, which is gonna help him a lot!! Dan Quinn made the mistake of making Mazi lose weight in his rookie year and then Mike Zimmer made him gain the weight back last year, that’s a lot for a young player to go through, especially since he played at the weight he’s at now in college!! So playing at that weight in college, then losing the weight his rookie year, and then gaining it back last year…. It’s a lot!! But this year he gets to play with the same weight as last year, which means he’ll be more comfortable than he has been since he’s been drafted!! So I think he’ll be fine!! And then we drafted Jay Toia in the 7th round!! And all he’s known for is stopping the run!! I know, he’s a 7th round pick, but the only reason he fell that far is because he don’t rush the passer very well, and he is a little short, but he was really good at stopping the run in college!! And just because he was drafted in the 7th round, it don’t mean he won’t be good in the NFL!! But like I said, he only fell to the 7th round because he don’t rush the passer, and he’s a little short!! But I think if he was a few inches taller and was at least decent at rushing the passer, he would’ve been drafted a lot sooner!! But we don’t really need him to rush the passer, we need him to stop the run, and from what I’ve been hearing, he’s been impressing everybody in practice, so it sounds like he’s doing what he needs to be doing!! But if we can get him and Mazi in on running plays, we can get Osa and Solomon Thomas in on obvious passing downs and we’ll be fine at DT!! Plus we have kneeland who is known for stopping the run too!! But like I said at the beginning, it wouldn’t hurt to add another 1 tech DT, but I think we’ll be fine with who we have!!
For whatever reason, Cowboys have had a problem at run defense for some time now, and they seem to have a puzzling aversion to trying to solve it. As usual they pass on some of the premiere DT prospects and wait till the 7th to grab two. One of those two DTs I admit to not being familiar with. The other one, Toia, hopefully can contribute early and well. BUT why are they waiting till the 7th? It seems to be counterintuitive.
The reason they haven’t solved the run defense problem for so long is because it hasn’t been an actual problem as much or for as long as fans think. We still envision 1990s style defenses that would start a pair of beefcakes in the middle, three LBers (including a run defense SAM), and Safeties who would blow people up. Those defenses would face offenses built for the run, and thus had reason to focus on locking the run down, and the better run defenses DID lock the run down. As the NFL has shifted to the pass, defenses rightly have focused on stopping that, meaning there are lighter defenses and bigger gaps to take advantage of, but few teams will find it worth focusing on that because even the best rushing teams dont get the efficiency per play of a typical passing offense. That means ALL defenses give up more and easier yards than they used to, so an solid run defense looks like a below average (or worse) one to our eyes.
That, and a focus on volume stats rather than efficiency, has made the Cowboy run defense look worse in many years than it was. They have had years when they’ve cracked a top 10 efficiency run defense but gave up top 10 worst yardage totals – that disconnect takes a bit of work to realize.
That being said, the run defense has been leakier in recent years and was indeed bad last year, so it does need major improvement.
a Dallas Cowboys since the 70’s for now Jerry Jones most likely will have to sign free agents if Jerry Jones have any money to fix the Cowboys run defense until the 2026 draft to replace them with younger, faster, quicker draft picks
Cowboys need to find another Tony Casillas type – not one of those sloppy pot bellied cement bags who can’t move.