Ask any Cowboys’ fan what they feel the biggest issue in 2023 was and more than likely the ability to stop the run will come up. Even those who feel like run defense is the least important factor in a team’s overall success will admit that stopping the opposing team’s ground game was not something Dallas did with any serious effect, thanks to a gooey interior that compromised a weakened linebacker corps.
Pro Football Focus knows very well that Dallas’ interior defensive line was lacking in 2023. Johnathan Hankins ranked 94th of 141 DTs in PFF defensive grades and was seen by some as a huge offseason loss. Yet still, they ranked the Cowboys’ as the sixth best defensive line in the league heading into 2024 thanks to their pass-rushing prowess, specifically Micah Parsons.
6. DALLAS COWBOYS
An elite player will take you quite far on the defensive line, and the Cowboys are this high thanks to Micah Parsons, who racked up 103 quarterback pressures in the regular season a year ago.
Demarcus Lawrence also earned a 90.0-plus PFF grade, thanks in large part to his run defense, but Dallas is lacking the depth of the teams above them and, in particular, needs to see growth from second-year nose tackle Mazi Smith.
Osa Odighizuwa (21st), Chauncey Golston (45th) and Mazi Smith (121st) round out the returning DTs and Dallas didn’t do much in free agency or the draft to improve the run defense. Instead they are changing philosophy with new defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer having a bigger commitment to scheming run stops.
The Cowboys’ rivals, the Philadelphia Eagles, are ranked third overall, behind the New York Jets and the San Francisco 49ers, with the Detroit Lions ranking fifth. Those are seen as the primary teams Dallas will try to surpass to make it back to the Super Bowl.
The New York Giants and Washington Commanders are ranked 18th and 19th respectively.