As the days on the calendar go by, the Dallas Cowboys get further away from the disappointing end to the 2023 season and closer to the excitement of a new season.
The 2024 season will be a prove-it year for the Dallas Cowboys. There are so many players and coaches who are playing and coaching on one-year deals that the 2025 team could look completely different.
Offensively, the Cowboys could be looking at two new starters on the offensive line, with a third being a distant probability, but probable nonetheless.
There will also be new starters at running back and wide receiver number three. According to my previous article previewing the Cowboys’ possible Week 1 starting lineup, there will be a new number two tight end, as well.
Defensively, Dallas lost several key contributors from the 2023 roster. Most of the players chose to follow former DC Dan Quinn to Washington, where he now serves as head coach of the Commanders.
The defensive departures to the nation’s capital are DE Dorance Armstrong, DE Dante Fowler Jr., and CB Noah Igbinoghene.
Dallas also lost other key players defensively such as CB Stephon Gilmore (free agent), Leighton Vander Esch (retirement), DT Neville Gallimore (Miami), DT Johnathan Hankins (Seattle), and S Jayron Kearse (free agent).
The Cowboys definitely lost more on defense than the did on offense, and it will show through the starting lineup in Week 1 of the 2024 season.
That is what we will be covering today: the much-too-premature defensive starting lineup for the Cowboys when they take on the Cleveland Browns in Ohio.
Zimmer’s Defense
Mike Zimmer was welcomed back to the team after a nearly two-decade hiatus. Zimmer was the defensive coordinator for the Cowboys under Bill Parcells through the 2006 season.
Quinn, the previous defensive coordinator, employed a strategy heavily weighted towards athleticism and flexibility.
For example, Quinn’s defense is notorious for the safeties and linebackers to be interchangeable. This sometimes worked in the Cowboys’ favor, but the undersized linebacker eventually succumbed to teams with good rushing attacks.
In this exercise, I will assume that Zimmer will come out Week 1 with a traditional 4-3 look, meaning there will be four down linemen, three linebackers, and four defensive backs. I will throw in a 12th player to be named as the starting Nickel cornerback.
Defensive Ends
DeMarcus Lawrence, Marshawn Kneeland
The defensive line rotation for the Cowboys will be one to monitor because there are so many talented players on the roster who need the chance to prove themselves.
DeMarcus Lawrence is not one of those players because he already is one of the fiercest run defenders in the NFL.
Opposite him in the formation will be the player who many are comparing to him. Rookie Marshawn Kneeland will beat out Sam Williams in training camp for the right to start at right defensive end.
Kneeland and Tank on the field at the same time will help limit Nick Chubb and the Browns’ rushing attack.
Defensive Tackles
Osa Odighizuwa, Mazi Smith
The two starters at defensive tackle should come as no surprise to anyone following Dallas Cowboys football. Dallas suffers from a lack of size and talent at the position, as has been widely scrutinized.
Dallas failed to address the positon in free agency or the draft, and now enter the 2024 season with the same questions they faced for the linebacker corps last offseason.
Osa Odighizuwa is in a contract year, and he will be out to prove that he deserves generational wealth with his first big contract after his rookie deal.
Mazi Smith, who is recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, looks to shake the early bust status by bouncing back and having a better sophomore campaign.
Linebackers
Eric Kendricks, Damone Clark, Micah Parsons
When you look at my projected starters for the linebacker position, Micah Parsons might be a name that surprises you.
Micah has been playing primarily defensive end the past two seasons, but I believe Zimmer will want to use him as more of a chess piece instead of locking him into one spot from down to down.
Parsons will start on early downs as the Will linebacker, which stands for “weakside linebacker”, a position that allows him to disguise his intentions before the play.
When Parsons lines up with his hand down on the line of scrimmage, the weakside position will be covered by DeMarvion Overshown.
Middle linebacker is obviously Eric Kendricks. That’s the job he was brought in to take over because he knows Zimmer’s defense, and can help with the transition.
Sam linebacker, or strong-side linebacker will be manned by Damone Clark, but don’t be surprised of rookie Marist Liufau works his way into the rotation early and often.
Defensive Backs
Trevon Diggs, DaRon Bland, Malik Hooker, Donovan Wilson
In the defensive backfield, not too much will change from last season.
Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland will man the boundaries while Malik Hooker and Donovan Wilson shore up the back end at safety.
However, the defensive back rotation will be one of the most fluid rotations on Zimmer’s defense. There is just too much talent to lock in one player as the go-to for every situation.
Other players who will see plenty of playing time and could possibly wrestle the starting job away from any of the two starting safeties are Juanyeh Thomas and Markquese Bell.
As far as cornerback goes, when the Cowboys decide to send out their Nickel package, the fifth defensive back on the field will most likely be Jourdan Lewis.
Lewis might have the job locked up early but rookie Caelen Carson from Wake Forest will be nipping at his heels.
There you have it—the much-too-premature starting defensive lineup projection for the Dallas Cowboys in Week 1 of the 2024 season.