The never-ending quest for a pass rusher in Dallas has calmed down since DeMarcus Lawrence had a break-out season in 2017. Now, the Cowboys have seemingly found their “War Daddy” to get after quarterbacks week after week on the field.
Playing under the franchise tag, the long-term future at defensive end is still uncertain for the Cowboys. Will they give Lawrence an arguably deserved extension? Or will they wait to see him prove that he isn’t what many are afraid he is… a one-year wonder.
Whatever the case may be, pass rusher is one of those positions that always concern NFL teams and fans around the world. Some name the position one of the most important in the sport, and rightfully so. For Dallas, retaining Lawrence for at least another season was a huge offseason victory.
Pair that uncertainty about the long term future with the fact that Lawrence’s best play came when playing as the left defensive end, and you still have a team that could use a pass rusher on the right side.
Without a doubt, the team will be looking for one in the Draft, even though it may not be early.
However, the Dallas Cowboys may already have their right defensive end of the future in the house. They of course would have to get lucky, but Randy Gregory is reportedly applying for reinstatement.
Now, the team can’t depend on Gregory being there for next season and should continue to build their team without him as part of the plan, but Gregory could very well end up being a starter down the road if he’s reinstated.
Despite his limited availability at the start of his career, the talent is clearly there. As Inside The Star Staff Writer Jess Haynie wrote yesterday, the Cowboys are in a no-lose scenario with him.
Another player who we may be forgetting about is actually last year’s first round pick. Many were disappointed when Dallas drafted Taco Charlton in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft. Taco flashed potential towards the end of the season, giving us hope that he was indeed going to be a very good player for the team.
Although Charlton’s rookie season was a bit disappointing for a first-round pick, it’s still too early to give up on him. We’ll see how he progresses and hopefully he ends up being this team’s RDE.
In my pre-free agency mock draft, with a board wiped clean for Dallas, I mocked an EDGE rusher for the Cowboys at 19. I know this might not be what the front office will be looking for in the first round, but one has to wonder if someone like Harold Landry falls to them, would they consider taking him?
Landry is a very talented player who could do great things for this defensive line. Imagine that front. It could be what this team needs to take the defense to another level.
For now, we know the Cowboys are set at LDE with DeMarcus Lawrence, who is becoming one of the best rushers in the league. Will they get lucky at RDE with any of these guys? Hopefully, yes.
