With only Mazi Smith and Osa Odighizuwa under contract for 2024, the Cowboys have some work to do at defensive tackle this offseason.
This offseason, the Cowboys’ run defense is being criticized once more. If that wasn’t enough to get people excited, three interior lineman are about to become free agents and there is a new defensive coordinator in town. As we get ready for 2024, there will be a lot of talk about Dallas’ defensive tackles.
DTs didn’t help much, even though they aren’t solely to blame for the team’s 16th-ranked run defense in 2023. Many teams were forced to give up on the run in high-scoring games by Dallas’ formidable attack, so even that poor ranking is positively biased. But individual games demonstrated that the Cowboys were woefully unable to halt opponents who had the means to force their way.
Veteran tackle Jonathan Hankins, along with rotation player Neville Gallimore, was Dallas’ greatest defensive end throughout the run. However, Hankins and Gallimore are free agents this season. It is expected that Hankins will return, but Gallimore will probably go on after four forgettable years. In March, he will turn 32, but as a run-stuffing specialist, he is not required to perform a demanding job.
Hopefully, Mazi Smith, Dallas’s first-round selection from the previous season, was prepared to take on a more significant role, negating the need for Hankins. Still, it’s evident that the organization is unsure about him as evidenced by rumors that last season they asked him to lose weight and develop into a more versatile player.
However, Mike Zimmer has replaced Dan Quinn, thus Smith might be asked to return to the original concept of playing nose tackle. Hopefully, a full offseason of effort combined with new insights will enable him to resume his progress as a prospect. Dallas will be able to better manage an otherwise thin DT depth chart if they can count on Smith in 2024.
The DTs didn’t help much, even though having the 16th-ranked run defense in 2023 isn’t entirely their fault. In high-scoring games, Dallas’ explosive offensive drove many defenses to give up on the run, which is why even that mediocre ranking is favorably skewed. Individual competitions, however, made it evident that the Cowboys lacked the means to contain opponents who might use force.
Veteran tackle Jonathan Hankins was Dallas’ greatest defensive end during the run, but he and rotation player Neville Gallimore are both unrestricted free agents this season. After four dull years, Gallimore will probably go on, but Hankins might be called back. Despite not having a demanding schedule as a run-stuffing specialist, he turns 32 in March.
Dallas would prefer not to require Hankins if last year’sThe Cowboys are unlikely to make another significant investment at DT this offseason after losing out on Smith last season. However, given that Odighizuwa is about to reach the last year of his rookie contract, a second-day pick could be available. In the hopes that Smith will mature enough to provide them with a potent starting combination in the future, Dallas may decide to select a player now for the rotation in order to replace Odighizuwa in 2025.
Mike Zimmer’s entrance will undoubtedly play a role in this. What does he believe Smith’s ideal future role should be? Which linebackers—or the front line—will he concentrate on more to strengthen run defense? It’s possible that some of the tactics from the previous regime aren’t in place present
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