Massive hole remains on Cowboys defense, demanding attention in 2025 NFL draft
A successful offseason typically requires harmony between free agency and the NFL draft. Proven veterans are matched with wild-card rookies to plug holes, hedge bets and build for the future. The Dallas Cowboys, who typically like to do things their own way, often lean heavily on the latter while stubbornly neglecting the former.
2025 has been a different story for Dallas. The Cowboys deployed Operation: Selectively Aggressive, hitting free agency and the trade market with purpose and urgency. It has netted them 10 new players and counting which has positioned them better than expected for the 2025 NFL draft in April.
One area of the roster where the Cowboys paid particular attention to was to their defensive line. By inking Dante Fowler, Solomon Thomas and Payton Turner, Dallas built up their rotation and possibly even found a starter in the process. Together with Micah Parsons, Marshawn Kneeland, Sam Williams and their $80 million man Osa Odighizuwa, the Cowboys have put together a fairly solid defensive line. Except for one massive hole, that is.
True to form the Cowboys have again turned their backs on the 1-tech defensive tackle spot this offseason. The position known for stoutness and run defense remains a glaring problem in Dallas, and based on what's left on the free agent market, it's likely to remain a problem until the the NFL draft.
Over recent years the Cowboys have treated the 1-tech position like a second-class citizen, filling it with a mix of journeymen and replacement level players. They used a first-round pick on a defensive tackle in 2023 when they picked Mani Smith from Michigan, but he's floated between the two tackle spots, struggling mightily to play the run when positioned at 1-tech. It's a worrisome issue for a team that was routinely abused by the run in 2024.
Luckily for the Cowboys, the 2025 draft class has a hefty collection of stout 1-techs available for the taking. Options should be there in the first, second and even third round of the upcoming draft. It stands to reason Dallas' neglect in free agency was calculated because the front office intends on targeting the position early in the draft.
Together with running back, receiver and cornerback, the Cowboys have plenty of needs and not enough premium picks on hand to confidently address them. The overall quality of the draft this year is believed to be poor, so trading back to pick up additional picks will be harder than in previous years. The returns will be lesser so everyone might as well toss those trade value charts out the window this year.
With such an enormous hole to fill in the middle of the defensive line, the Cowboys can ill afford to push the 1-tech spot into Day 3. Contrary to popular belief, it's RB that might get the bump down in this abnormally deep RB class.
If the Cowboys want to get a starting quality DT out of this class, they'll probably need to invest a top 75 pick to find him. Interior defensive linemen with pass rushing skills go first, but Dallas doesn't necessarily need pass rushing skills from their 1-tech. They need stoutness, discipline and run stopping ability which are qualities that should be attainable in the second and third rounds.
The Cowboys did some good things in free agency but in order to make this defensive line they still need one enormous addition.
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