After a poor-run defense performance in the playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers last season, it was clear that the Dallas Cowboys needed to make upgrades. In the Draft, you did see them address the interior defensive line with the pick of Arkansas DT John Ridgeway, who’s known for his ability to fill space and stop the run, but he alone won’t be able to solve their problem.
As of right now, the franchise will enter Training Camp with the usual suspects from last year (Neville Gallimore, Osa Odighizuwa, Trysten Hill, and Quinton Bohanna). But with Bleacher Report writer Ian Wharton suggesting Hill as a player the Cowboys could cut this offseason, there could be an urgency to add bodies.
To help offset the possible cut, I wanted to discuss if DT Ndamukong Suh could be an option. Although he’s on the older side, Suh has shown every year he can be available health-wise and after last season also proved he still has juice left in the tank.
Going off his stats last season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Suh collected six sacks, 13 QB hits, 27 tackles, seven TFL (tackles for loss), and one fumble recovery. Comparing those stats to the Cowboys DTs, he would have ranked 1st in almost all categories except for total tackles, as he would have been 3rd.
Adding Suh would finally give the club a true run-stopper that they have lacked for a few seasons. Additionally, he brings a Super Bowl-winning mentality and toughness that the Cowboys desperately need.
While I’m not claiming Suh to be the savior of the defense (since you likely would have sold your arm and leg to have him on your team during his prime Detroit Lion days), Suh garners respect from opposing offenses because of his respected resume that arguably no player on the Cowboys currently has.
Additionally, his presence would allow other players to flourish, and he could be the perfect short-term gap option for the franchise. If Suh is too expensive for the team to consider, they could look at other DTs such as Akiem Hicks, Star Lotulelei, or Brandon Williams, who ITS Writer Jess Haynie wrote about in-depth last Sunday.
Nonetheless, it’s tiring seeing teams constantly pound the rock down the Cowboys throat, and if they want to make some serious noise this postseason, adding Suh would be the ideal option. Also, with writers suggesting the Cowboys add LB Anthony Barr as well, we could finally see an elite defense this year.
Well, I hope.
