Inside The Star
On Thursday, Tyrone Crawford, a nine-year Cowboys veteran, teased some predictions for Dallas’s 2025 season. He named Mazi Smith and Marshawn Kneeland as players poised to make major strides on the Cowboys defense next season.
These two young talents, while at very different points in their careers, are facing similar situations heading into 2025.
Both need breakout campaigns if the Cowboys are going to view them as long-term building blocks on the defensive front.
I know there’s two guys on the Cowboys roster right now that people don’t talk a lot about, but their names are gonna blow up next year!
— Tyrone Crawford 🇨🇦 (@TCrawford98) March 27, 2025
With Smith turning 24 in June, and still unable to contribute in a significant way, and Kneeland coming off a meniscus tear, this young defensive line duo needs to make names for themselves before it’s too late.
Crawford seems to think they can pull it off, but the fanbase is weary, especially in the case of Smith.
Let’s take a look at both of these guys and what they need to bring to the Cowboys defense this fall.
Dallas drafted Kneeland with the 56th pick in the second round of last year’s draft. It was a surprise for some, as the defensive end depth chart looked solid with Micah Parsons, DeMarcus Lawrence, Sam Williams, and Chauncey Golston leading the charge.
Fast-forward to now, and Lawrence is in Seattle, Williams is recovering from a torn ACL, and Golston is a New York Giant.
DE Demarcus Lawrence signing a three-year deal with Seahawks worth up to $42M with $18M guaranteed. (via @TomPelissero, @RapSheet, @MikeGarafolo) pic.twitter.com/9fWkAI8SJo
— NFL (@NFL) March 12, 2025
In short, Kneeland quickly became a critical member of the defensive line room this offseason.
The Western Michigan alum is still seeking the first sack of his NFL career, as he played in just 11 games and started one of those, but the team is banking on him to develop into a much larger role as he ages.
There is some bad news for Kneeland, despite his odds of increased playing time. He is turning 24 this summer, and could see competition for a starting role from a highly-touted draft pick if Dallas targets defense in April.
They’ve also added some juice to the room in free agency, with Dante Fowler Jr. and Payton Turner providing significant depth at defensive end.
Reunion: #Commanders FA edge Dante Fowler Jr, one of the top players available, is signing with the #Cowboys on a 1-year, $8M deal, per The Insiders.
A full-circle moment, as Fowler was in Dallas in 2022-23. Deal negotiated by Sean Kiernan and Tom Povinelli of @AthletesFirst. pic.twitter.com/NJqW7ppmj8
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 14, 2025
Kneeland has to prove that he was worthy of his draft selection, and that he stands above these depth moves and any potential rookie that may join the team this...
