Blogging The Boys
In the photo above, two defensive ends who once played for the Dallas Cowboys have since become defensive factors on their respective teams. Over his first two seasons with the Washington Commanders, Dorance Armstrong has 10.5 sacks. Since 1982, that ranks as the tenth most in franchise history for any defensive lineman during their first 22 games with the Commanders. As for Parsons, he is still trying to find his footing on a new defense, but he still manages to be tied for having the fourth most pressures among all defensive players in the 2025 season, per Pro Football Focus.
The Cowboys’ current defensive front is struggling to sack the quarterback. So far, Dallas has 11 sacks, which ranks in the bottom half in team history through the first six weeks of the regular season. James Houston, a journeyman pass rusher, is the team leader with four sacks. Second on the team is defensive tackle Kenny Clark, who has two of his own. Once thought of as the strength of the Dallas defense, the defensive line has quickly turned into one of its most significant weaknesses.
There’s a reason for that. The Cowboys have been unable to get production from many of the players they draft along the defensive line. Since 2019, the front office has drafted 16 defensive linemen. For context, even DeMarvion Overshown is added in the mix after recording five sacks in 2024. Taking Parsons out of the mix, all the 15 other picks have recorded 43.5 sacks during their time with Dallas. Parsons had 52.5 sacks.
The sack totals for all Cowboys defensive linemen drafted since 2016, adding up to 86.5:
*Micah Parsons – 52.5
*Dorance Armstrong – 23.5
Osa Odighizuwa – 14.5
*Maliek Collins – 14.5
Sam Williams – 9.5
*Chauncey Golston – 9
DeMarvion Overshown – 5
*Neville Gallimore – 4
*Taco Charlton – 4
*Charles Tapper – 1
Marshawn Kneeland – 1
*Trysten Hill – 0.5
Donovan Ezeiruaku – 0
Jay Toia – 0
*Tommy Akingbesote – 0
*Justin Rogers – 0
*Viliami Fehoko – 0
*John Ridgeway – 0
*Quinton Bohanna – 0
*Bradlee Anae – 0
*Joe Jackson – 0
*Jalen Jelks – 0
*Joey Ivie – 0
*Jordan Carrell – 0* – no longer with Dallas
What about before 2019? Going back to 2016, the four best pass rushers the Cowboys have drafted are Parsons (52.5), Dorance Armstrong (23.5), Osa Odighizuwa (14.5), and Maliek Collins (14.5). Coming in fifth place is Sam Williams with 9.5 sacks, who has performed way below expectations in his first season as a starter. In the final year of his rookie contract, there are questions about whether or not he will be a part of the team’s future.
It’s not like the Cowboys haven’t poured high draft picks into the defensive line position. Taco Charlton was...
