From veterans to rookies, drafted or undrafted, the Dallas Cowboys have put together a talented group of defensive ends this offseason. As impressive as this group is on paper, there's still a lot of unknown as to who they will name as DeMarcus Lawrence's counterpart for the 2020 season.
We all know DeMarcus Lawrence will once again start on the left side, but who starts opposite him this year is still completely up in the air right now. The Dallas Cowboys of course have some really good options on the roster, but ultimately it'll probably come down to either Tyrone Crawford, Aldon Smith, or Randy Gregory.
A case can be made for any of the three above-mentioned players to start this year. Odds are we will see them in a rotation, but for the fun of it let's pretend the Dallas Cowboys have to pick one to start opposite D-Law. Which one of them is the best suited to replace Robert Quinn at right defensive end this season?
Tyrone Crawford, Aldon Smith, and Randy Gregory are no doubt starting caliber players a lot of teams would love to have on their roster. Sadly though, all three also carry a weight of risk that simply can't be overlooked. Crawford is coming off double hip surgery, Smith hasn't played in the league since 2015, and Gregory missed the entire 2019 season due to suspension.
As you can imagine, naming any one of these players as the starter right now would be unwise. No one really knows how they will bounce back after their time away from the game, whether it was due to injury or suspension. However, for the fun of it I'm going to share with you who I'd go with…
Come on down Randy Gregory!!!
Okay listen, I know Randy Gregory has spent more time in the NFL suspended then he has on the field, however, I believe he's the most talented pass rusher the Dallas Cowboys currently have on the roster. His length, speed, bend, and ankle flexion sets him apart from Tyrone Crawford and Aldon Smith in my opinion. Those intangibles easily help him capture the edge.
I don't think there's ever been any question about Randy Gregory's talent. His downfall thus far in his career, even dating back to college, was his decision to self medicate using marijuana to treat his anxiety. Now that that's no longer an issue in the NFL, we may now finally see just how good he can really be.
I don't know about you, but I'm personally hoping Randy Gregory can pick up where he left off prior to being handed a year-long suspension in 2019. I truly believe he's the Dallas Cowboys best option to start opposite DeMarcus Lawrence. Now all he has to do is go out there and prove me right.
