The Cowboys have had some success finding defensive tackles from UCLA.
New defensive coordinator, same old problem.
Year in and year out, it seems as if the interior of the Dallas Cowboys defensive line is the one position we can point to as a weak link on the roster. The 2025 season offers up the same challenge, making Matt Eberflus’ job that much more difficult as Dallas’ new DC.
Outside of re-signing Osa Odighizuwa to once again hold down the starting job at the ever important 3-technique position in Eberflus’ 4-3 scheme, the Cowboys did not spend big to add to the position. Odighizuwa is one of the better 3-techniques in the league and a perfect fit in Eberflus’ scheme. And, one could argue, if he had a little more help around him he possesses Pro Bowl potential.
Minus Odighizuwa, there is a question of whether the DT position will be any better than it has been under previous defensive coordinators in Dallas. Mazi Smith still hasn’t lived up to his first-round draft status. The Cowboys did add some help in free agency by adding Solomon Thomas, but he is starting the backside of his career. He will contribute, but how much is hard to say.
Dallas waited until the seventh round to attempt to upgrade the position in the 2025 NFL Draft. With the 217th and 247th overall pick, the Cowboys drafted Jay Toia and Tommy Akingbesote to add some much-needed depth to the DT position. As seventh-round picks though, not much is expected of them to make significant impacts as rookies.
Of the two though, Jay Toia has a pretty good shot at becoming a solid rotation piece in 2025, taking away some of the snaps from Mazi Smith. While he was a late-round pick, there are those who had him graded several rounds earlier, like The Athletic’s Dane Brugler.
Per Dane Brugler’s “The Beast“:
A three-year starter at UCLA, Toia was the zero/one-technique in defensive coordinator Ikaika Malloe’s 3-3-5 base scheme. His production on paper doesn’t jump out, but the tape shows a player willing to chew up blocks in the middle, freeing linebackers and ends to make plays.
When he plays with consistent leverage, Toia is able to put down roots and shut down inside running lanes. However, he must continue to develop his instincts to create tackle opportunities, instead of just taking up room. Overall, Toia might not have the length or awareness to be a full-time two-gapper in the NFL, but he has a powerful base and physical hands to neutralize the point of attack. He projects as a scheme-versatile nose tackle.
GRADE: 3rd-4th Round
Toia possesses the skill set to potentially push Mazi Smith for the starting job as Dallas’ 1-technique, despite being a seventh-round pick. All the intangibles are there for him to succeed, but first he’ll have to catch the eye of the coaching staff and outperform his competition.
That’s not completely out of the question considering Smith has not as of yet been able to shed the first-round bust label. In fact, with a new DC and coaching staff, he doesn’t have a true lock on the job, opening up the door for Toia.
However he is used, Toia should be a significant part of the Cowboys DL this season if he plays to his talent in training camp and preseason. And because of that, will be a vital part of Dallas’ success or failure along with Odighizuwa, a fellow UCLA alumni.
