As the summer heats up and we inch closer to training camp and preseason for the Cowboys, it is that time again where I look around the depth chart and analyze different things.
The Cowboys trade for Quinnen Williams in the middle of last year was a major one, and they beefed up the defensive line by adding all those other bodies around him, which many did not think would look like that after Micah Parsons got traded.
My own thoughts are that the line on that side of the ball is better today than it was a year ago, and one reason is because I think Williams can get back to his All-Pro status.
2022
Williams has made the Pro Bowl every single season since 2022, when he was a first team All-Pro with the New York Jets.
He is widely considered a top five defensive tackle in all of football, and if he is not fifth, he is number six.
Jeffery Simmons, Dexter Lawrence, Chris Jones, Derrick Brown and MAYBE Vita Vea. I still think Williams is better than Vea, but we can agree to disagree, and don’t try and sell me that DeForest Buckner or Nnamdi is better than him because they aren’t.
Williams has a very good chance in the NFC at returning to the All-Pro board, whether that is first team or second team.
The Cowboys defensive line is going to make things a lot easier on Williams. When we were in New York, it was block Williams and let somehow else beat you.
Now being in a 3-4 base with Rashan Gary, Kenny Clark and guys like Donovan Ezeriuaku and Malachi Lawrence, those are a lot of bodies who are good football players to worry about. Williams has never had this many guys around him that make an impact.
And is the best scheme for Quinnen Williams and his strengths?
I am not sitting here trying to tell you that the Cowboys’ defense is going to be a top unit in the league, but outside the corners, they are way better than last year, and if you don’t think so, then you just want them to fail.
They will be average or better and actually having a guy like Christian Parker running will help them, and not having some retired head coach who was good for one year running it in Matt Eberflus is a major upgrade.
Depth is still a issue, but we have to look at this from the lense of right now, and if a couple of guys miss a game here or there, it is not going to wreck them, Williams returning to an All-Pro form is 100% possible.
In that 2022 season, he had 12 sacks, 55 total tackles and 28 quarterback hits. His sack numbers won’t be as good, but the other two he can achieve easy. My prediction right now for Williams right now on June 30th is that he ends the year with 8.5 sacks, 65 total tackles and over 30 quarterback hits.
That stat line is All-Pro worthy, sacks aren’t everything, not when you are an elite defensive tackle who has five other more important jobs to worry about.
I really like the way the summer has gone with no Jerry Jones drama and it makes this easier to talk about, because it has been nothing but football for once and let’s hope that it stays that way because I think everyone is tired of it being all about Jerry.
This has been the best summer I can remember for a long time, but we have a long way to go, and I am sure he will pop up sometime during Training Camp, but it is great that is just not talking.
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