Blogging The Boys
Between personnel and scheme changes, the Cowboys’ defensive line has undergone a nearly complete transformation from this time a year ago. Rookie prospect D.J. Withers is going to try his best to break into that revamped line.
Years in NFL: 0
Acquired by: UDFA (2026)
An Arkansas native, Withers had a five-year run as a versatile defensive lineman for the Jayhawks. For the last two years, he played under Kansas’ defensive coach D.K. McDonald. Interestingly, McDonald was the Philadelphia Eagles’ defensive backs coach in 2023 and had Christian Parker, Dallas’ new DC, as one of his assistants. It seems hardly a coincidence that Withers and Kansas teammate Tommy Dunn both found their way to Dallas as developmental prospects for Parker’s new 3-4 scheme, which they played last year when McDonald fully took over as the Jayhawks’ coordinator.
Years Left: 3
2026 Cap Hit: $886k
Even when their chances of making the 53-man roster are slim, most UDFAs get the same basic deal. If they do somehow make it, the Cowboys are in great shape as it gives them a cheap asset for several years and the additional leverage of restricted free agency when the contract expires. We just saw a great example of that in guard T.J. Bass.
Role: Backup DE
Roster Chance: 10%
Withers is one of several DL prospects vying for the Cowboys’ attention this summer. We already mentioned Dunn, and there’s another UDFA with them in Virginia Tech’s Kelvin Gilliam. There’s also Adedayo Odeleye, Dallas’ international pathway player. These four guys will be in a fight to emerge as more than just camp bodies, but true assets worthy of continued development if not a roster spot.
Getting on the roster will be a tall order, though. The Cowboys’ renovated defensive line already boasts All-Pro Quinnen Williams, veteran Kenny Clark, free agent additions Otito Ogbonnia and Jonathan Bullard, and drafted rookie LT Overton. There’s also second-year prospect Jay Toia, a seventh-rounder from last year. Some might lump Toia more with the dark horse prospects than the roster favorites, but it’s still a bit early to start dismissing him. So right there, you already have six players who are ahead of Withers and the others in the pecking order.
With the nickel scheme being used more than the base 3-4, which can limit the number of defensive linemen on the field for the majority of snaps, Dallas may not even need to keep six guys at tackle. If they do go with just five, it seems a fairly certain group with the players we just mentioned, minus Toia. But there could be one possible crack in Bullard, who turns 33 in October.
Remember, Dallas signed Bullard about a month before drafting Overton. If the rookie comes on strong early, he could fill a similar role. That might allow Dallas to lean on youth and use Bullard’s spot to secure one of their developmental players on the 53.
Of course, it’s much...
