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Cowboys believe they have a ‘secret formula’ to improve their pass rush
By Jon Machota
July 8, 2026 Updated 11:42 am EDT
As poorly as the Dallas Cowboys’ defense played last season, the pressure numbers truly weren’t bad. Getting opposing quarterbacks to the ground was the issue.
With training camp three weeks away, the question remains: Have they done enough to improve in that area?
Dallas finished second to the Denver Broncos in quarterback pressures last season with 197, according to Pro Football Reference. The Cowboys had the NFL’s most quarterback hurries with 89.
These statistics are subjective, so let’s also include Pro Football Focus’ numbers, which had Dallas at 251 pressures, still eighth-most in the league.
There’s no debate about the sack total. The Cowboys only managed 35, tied for 22nd in the NFL. It was a significant decline from the 2024 season when they finished third with 52. They were also third in 2022 with 54.
The obvious difference is that All-Pro defensive end Micah Parsons was on the team in 2022 and 2024. He was traded a week before the 2025 season began.
Knowing that pass rusher was a significant offseason need, Dallas was heavily involved in trade talks with the Las Vegas Raiders to add five-time Pro Bowler Maxx Crosby. After the Raiders agreed to trade Crosby to the Baltimore Ravens for two first-round picks, the Cowboys moved on, trading a fourth-round pick to the Green Bay Packers for Pro Bowl edge rusher Rashan Gary.
A month later, Dallas used a first-round pick to draft UCF edge rusher Malachi Lawrence.
Those two are expected to play alongside Donovan Ezeiruaku, whom the Cowboys drafted in the second round last year, to form the face of Dallas’ pass rush.
Yet, is that enough?
“We’re very confident with the guys that they brought in,” said Ezeiruaku, who is working his way back from January hip surgery to repair a torn labrum. “We have a pretty dynamic room and a very athletic room. The confidence is there. Our goals are very high. That (pass rush) is something we feel like we need to accomplish in order for this team to be successful.”
Those three would have been defensive ends in Dallas’ previous scheme. Under new defensive coordinator Christian Parker’s 3-4 base, they will be outside linebackers. The Cowboys’ other offseason activity at the position group included not re-signing veteran Jadeveon Clowney, who remains a free agent. Clowney led Dallas with 8.5 sacks last season but is not considered to be as much of a fit for what Parker is trying to do this season.
The Cowboys re-signed Sam Williams to a one-year deal and added veteran Charles Snowden to a group that also includes James Houston, Marist Liufau, Tyrus Wheat and Isaiah Land. Liufau is making the move from inside linebacker.
Gary has had the most NFL success at tackling quarterbacks, totaling 7.5 sacks each of the past two seasons. He had a career-high 9.5 in 2021.
“The film speaks for itself,” Gary said. “I’m a dog, man. I play with a lot of effort. I cause a lot of pressure. I don’t think anybody likes to go against me. I’m bringing the same energy, the same hustle, the same mentality.”
Houston had 5.5 sacks last year in Dallas and eight during his rookie season with the Detroit Lions in 2022. No one else has had five in a season.
None are expected to be the double-digit sack player Parsons was, but they could get the job done as more of a group. Dallas’ best defender is interior defensive lineman Quinnen Williams, who has spoken this offseason about becoming a better pass rusher. He had a 12-sack season in 2022.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7409252/2026/07/01/cowboys-players-under-pressure-2026/
The Cowboys could also get some pass rush help from inside linebackers DeMarvion Overshown and rookie Jaishawn Barham. Overshown had a five-sack season in 2024, and Barham had four sacks in 12 games at Michigan last season.
Lawrence might be the biggest wild card. In a typical year, he’d receive more focus as Dallas’ first-round pick. But he was the second of two first-rounders as the Cowboys traded up to select defensive back Caleb Downs with the 11th pick. Lawrence was picked 23rd after improving his stock during the pre-draft process. He had 19.5 sacks over his final three college seasons.
“That’s how I was at UCF,” Lawrence said. “I’m kind of used to being in the shadows, so it really doesn’t faze me. It’s just once the time comes, people will see the work that you’ve put in.”
BT Jordan was often mentioned by players during organized team activities and minicamp. Dallas hired the pass-rushing specialist in the offseason after he spent the previous two seasons with the Denver Broncos.
“He’s done it in the past, helping (pass rushing) rooms get over that hump,” Ezeiruaku said of Jordan. “He did it the last two years in Denver. With that help, I think we have the room to do it, to produce a lot of pressure and get the quarterback on the ground.
“He breaks the pass rush down to a science in a way. He’ll show you the film, he’ll show you his drills that he teaches and then show you it working in games. It’s kind of like he has the secret formula.”
There’s only so much a team can display in OTAs and minicamp when no one is in full pads. Ezeiruaku worked off to the side while rehabbing. Gary and Lawrence were usually working with the starters. While the two appeared quick, it’ll be more noteworthy if they can get to the quarterback in training camp when the offensive line is wearing pads.
That’ll be the first real test to see if Dallas has done enough at edge rusher. If not, another move might be needed.
Jon Machota is a staff writer covering the Dallas Cowboys for The Athletic. He previously covered the Cowboys for The Dallas Morning News. He's a Detroit native and graduate of Wayne State University.
