Inside The Star
The Dallas Cowboys entered 2025 surrounded by skepticism after trading away Micah Parsons. Many analysts predicted the defense would crumble without its former All-Pro pass rusher.
Yet early Pro Football Focus (PFF) grades tell a different story.
Dallas still has top performers, a potential second-year breakout pass rusher, and a few major weak links.
Here’s a breakdown of the highest and lowest graded Cowboys defenders after Week 1.
Safety Malik Hooker is the Dallas Cowboys’ highest graded defender at 76.3 overall, cementing his status as the backbone of the secondary.
His 87.7 tackling grade and 77.8 run defense grade lead the team, showing his ability to shut down plays in space.
Hooker allowed just one catch for six yards in coverage, playing both free safety (48 snaps) and in the box (12 snaps). His versatility and reliability are vital for a defense adjusting to life without Parsons.
Safety Donovan Wilson followed closely with a 74.4 overall grade. Known for his physicality, Wilson posted a 78.5 tackling grade with zero missed tackles and a 75.3 run defense grade.
In coverage, he allowed just four yards on two targets.
Wilson’s downhill style complements Hooker’s rangy play, giving Dallas one of the NFC’s best safety tandems following Week 1.
Second-year defensive end Marshawn Kneeland continues to emerge as a key piece of Dallas’ front seven.
He earned a 73.0 overall grade with a strong 73.1 run defense mark. Most importantly, Kneeland recorded the Cowboys’ only sack in the first game.
His 59.6 pass-rush grade suggests room for growth, but the production is coming. While tackling (36.3) remains his weak spot, Kneeland’s ability to generate the team’s only sack underscores his rising value in Year 2.
Both remain dependable playmakers in their respective roles.
While the top performers shined, three defenders graded out among the worst in the Dallas lineup.
Rookie defensive tackle Jay Toia posted a 29.3 overall grade, the lowest on the team.
His 29.7 run defense grade highlights how overmatched he was at the line of scrimmage. Though his tackling grade (66.8) was acceptable, he struggled to generate impact in limited snaps.
Linebacker Kenneth Murray Jr. graded just 30.0 overall, with poor marks in both run defense (27.8) and coverage (48.4).
While he recorded one total pressure, his inability to fill lanes or handle coverage responsibilities consistently makes him a liability.
