​The Cowboys still lack a proven, one-on-one edge rusher, and training camp could lay bare that deficiency quickly. After the 2025 trade that sent Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers, Dallas’ pass rush sagged, contributing to an NFL-worst 30.1 points allowed per game. In an effort to address the problem, the team rehired defensive coordinator Christian Parker and added high-profile interior work by bringing in Quinnen Williams and Rashan Gary. Yet according to Locked On Cowboys, the solution remains incomplete.
In a recent episode, hosts Marcus Mosher and Landon McCool voiced concerns about whether Dallas possesses a true, game-changing edge presence. “If we’re talking about pure edge rushers winning one-on-one situations, I think you have an argument that we don’t have a lot of certainty there,” McCool said. He noted that, from an interior standpoint, the Cowboys could potentially generate pressure through double teams or by freeing up interior linemen to win one-on-one. He suggested that last year’s performance benefited from such scheming rather than consistent elite edge play. That approach—relying on interior collapse to neutralize opponents so the edges don’t have to win cleanly—remains a bet Dallas is making.
Parsons, when he was on the roster, could erase that gap largely on his own. Gary has been productive, but he has not shouldered the pressure of leading a full pass-rush unit as the lone alpha. Behind them lies a notably thin depth chart. Donovan Ezeiruaku is still recovering from a late-January hip surgery that sidelined him through spring practice; while he is expected to be ready for training camp, the staff will need to monitor his ramp-up closely early on. Then there’s first-round rookie Malachi Lawrence, the UCF product who earned first-team reps this spring. Lawrence is projected to play about 40% to 45% of snaps as a situational third-down speed rusher, but he remains entirely unproven at the NFL level. Neither player has shown the ability to consistently beat an NFL tackle in competition.
Training camp reps will tell the tale. If no edge rusher separates himself by the preseason, Dallas could be forced to pursue free-agent options before Week 1. The club has shown cold feet on pursuing veterans like Von Miller, but owner Jerry Jones could pivot to other established pass-rushers such as Haason Reddick, Derek Barnett, or Yannick Ngakoue if the young players falter in Oxnard.
Meanwhile, Prescott’s surrounding corps continues to generate headlines, including an update on George Pickens as camp approaches. ESPN’s ranking of the Cowboys entering 2026 has drawn some scrutiny, though many view it as defensible given the current roster and trends. Off-field stories—ranging from a former Cowboy’s financial lawsuit to battery-case pressures—underscore that the franchise remains under a steady spotlight. The team’s playoff relevance and cap implications only heighten the urgency to fix the edge-rush conundrum.
Dallas’ offensive line questions linger as well, notably on Prescott’s blind side. The quarterback’s protection—and the ability to sustain clean pockets—remains a central theme of any realistic path back to prominence. Answers on the edge, and the overall pass-rush equation, will influence not just the defense’s ability to disrupt, but the offense’s capacity to stay balanced and efficient. If the young edge players fail to vault into reliable one-on-one win scenarios, the Cowboys may be forced to revisit veterans and reconfigure their approach as the 2026 season unfolds. The coming weeks in training camp will likely determine whether Dallas can bridge the gap between promising schematic design and genuine, game-changing edge production.