Cowboys’ starting defensive line was exposed in 2023

2024 Roster Review: Starting Defensive Line – Part 11 of 17. Click here to view all articles in this series.

The Dallas Cowboys’ pass rush was one of – if not the most – feared in the NFL in 2023.

Unfortunately for Dallas, opposing offenses found the defensive line’s Achillies heel. They couldn’t stop the run.

The issue became more pronounced after linebacker Leighton Vander Esch was injured on a dirty play by 49ers’ offensive lineman Trent Williams.

Vander Esch, at middle linebacker, was able to shore up the middle of the Cowboys’ defense against the run. Once he was lost for the year, Dallas had no answers up the middle.

And their opponents were more than happy to take full advantage.

The combination of having rookie Mazi Smith drop 30 pounds in the preseason and a plethora of undersized linebackers filling in for Vander Esch proved fatal.

Dallas did get solid efforts from defensive tackles Osa Odighizuwa and Jonathan Hankins. But they couldn’t play every down.

When they took a blow, neither Smith nor Neville Gallimore could step up and match their effort. The defensive ends were solid for the most part, with Micah Parsons moving all up and down the line.

Here’s how the starting four fared in 2023.

DeMarcus Lawrence

In his 10th NFL season Lawrence’s numbers were down across the board. Although he did set a career high pin passes defended at six in 2023.

But Lawrence’s numbers didn’t tell the true story of his season.

While he didn’t recover a fumble, or intercept a pass, for the first time since the 2016 season he did force a fumble. And he was making an impact in ways the numbers don’t show.

While teams were concerned with Parsons, they also had to account for Lawrence.

That opened the doors for Odighizuwa and others to hound the quarterback. Lawrence still ended the year with four sacks for himself.

He’s under contract for 2024 and should be solid at end again.

Chauncey Golston

Golston might be the biggest beneficiary of Dan Quinn’s departure, along with the 3-3-5 defense Quinn liked to start.

With Mike Zimmer taking over as the Cowboys’ new defensive coordinator in 2024, Dallas should be in a more traditional 4-3-4 set.

Golston is likely going to start at defensive end opposite Lawrence. And Parsons likely will be back at outside linebacker – but still moving around to torment offensive lines around the league.

Like Lawrence, Golston is under contract for 2024. He’ll be coming off a 2023 season that saw him start three games.

He had 1.5 sacks, a forced fumble and 25 tackles.

His primary competitor would be Dorance Armstrong, who is a free agent. If the Cowboys do not bring Armstrong back, Golston has the inside track.

Osa Odighizuwa

After Smith was drafted the natural expectation was that he’d be starting at defensive tackle.

When the Michigan rooking failed to meet those expectations it opened the door for Odighizuwa to hold onto the starting job.

He finished the year with 46 tackles, three sacks and 13 quarterback hits. In all likelihood, Odighizuwa will be the starter again in 2024.

The only question will be: Who will be starting at the other tackle position with him?

Johnathan Hankins

Hankins put together a solid year in 2023 – his 11th NFL season. With three sacks and 27 tackles Hankins filled an unexpected hole in the Cowboys’ defense.

But he’s a free agent as well which means Dallas has a decision to make – probably before the draft too.

Do they bring him back for his 12th season and hope he has one more good year left in the tank?

Or, do they let him go and hope Zimmer can get the full potential out of Smith. It will be a tough call either way.

Who Will Be The Starting Four

I’m not quite ready to give up completely on Smith, especially with Zimmer and his history of building strong defenses against the run.

So – barring an interesting splash in free agency – my money is on this starting line in 2024: Lawrence, Smith, Odighizuwa, and Golston.

I see Hankins serving as a backup if he’s brought back. He’d also be a great mentor to Smith to help his growth too.

With Parsons prowling up and down the line to terrorize the quarterback.