There are still some improvements the Cowboys could look to make to their defensive line.
The Dallas Cowboys added edge rusher Marshawn Kneeland in the NFL draft. After having an excellent training camp and preseason, Kneeland will be the first sub behind DeMarcus Lawrence and All-Pro Micah Parsons. The Cowboys did bring in veteran Carl Lawson, who they initially cut but brought back to the practice squad. However, Dallas could still use some more juice coming off the edge. When looking at the free agent market, there’s an intriguing name that the Cowboys should consider at edge rusher, and that’s Yannick Ngakoue.
A former third-round pick in 2016, Ngakoue spent four years with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He hit his peak in 2017 when he was named to the Pro Bowl after amassing 12 sacks and leading the NFL with six forced fumbles. After demanding a trade, Ngakoue was sent to the Minnesota Vikings in August of 2020. Two months later, he was traded to the Baltimore Ravens. Ngakoue would play in 15 games between the two teams and record eight sacks.
Ngakoue spent the 2021 campaign with the Las Vegas Raiders and produced 10 sacks and started all 17 games. A year later, with the Indianapolis Colts, Ngakoue put up 9.5 more sacks in 15 games. In 2023, Ngakoue was with the Chicago Bears, where he started 13 games and racked up four sacks before suffering a broken ankle. So, despite the recent bouncing around the league, Ngakoue still has what it takes to be a valuable piece to a rotation as he goes into his ninth year.
Although he’s not a great run defender, Ngakoue can still get after the quarterback. Last season was the first when he didn’t record at least eight sacks. If the Cowboys brought him in, he could fill the role that Dante Fowler had in Dallas the previous two seasons where he played a little over 300 snaps per year on average had 10 total sacks.
No team can have enough pass rushers in today’s NFL. Ngakoue is just the type of player that organizations would like to be available with the season approaching, and it would behoove the Cowboys to at least pick up the phone.
