The Dallas Cowboys underwhelmed and had a subpar outing in the 2019 season by way of an 8-8 record. The team then missed out on last season's NFL Playoffs after the Philadelphia Eagles grabbed a Week 17 win against the New York Giants. The Cowboys eventually concluded the season at 10th place in passing defense, 11th in rushing defense, and 11th in scoring defense.
The team's defensive line held their ground against most opponents but the Cowboys were far from satisfied. The front office showed their seriousness to further improve their roster by having a productive offseason. They sought more dangerous weapons to beef up their defensive line in the upcoming season.
Two-time Pro Bowl defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence will continue to banner Dallas' defensive line after having second thoughts on opting out of playing in 2020. Playing opposite of him is another hulking pass rusher in four-time Pro Bowl defensive end Everson Griffen. He capped off a 2019 campaign with 26 solo tackles, 8 sacks, and an interception for the Minnesota Vikings.
The Cowboys also snagged a gem on the free-agent market when they signed nose tackle Dontari Poe to a two-year agreement. The two-time Pro Bowler will be adding heft and a veteran presence to the defensive line where he recorded 15 solo tackles and 4 sacks for the Carolina Panthers last season.
It didn't stop there as the team added two intriguing defensive players who are looking to play key roles on the defensive side of the field.
Former Oakland Raider Aldon Smith looks to return to the gridiron after being involved in a hit-and-run incident on August 6, 2015. His failed bid for reinstatement forced him to sit out the entire 2016 and 2017 NFL seasons.
Two years later, he applied for reinstatement once again with hopes of signing with the Dallas Cowboys. Things eventually worked out for him as he was reinstated and inked a one-year deal to play in Dallas. The former Missouri Tiger last played in the 2015 season where he tallied 21 solo tackles and 3.5 sacks through 9 appearances.
On the other hand, outside linebacker Randy Gregory was a Cowboys mainstay since 2015. The team didn't release him despite his suspension for violation of the league's substance abuse policy on February 26, 2019. He landed a contract extension during the offseason and was conditionally reinstated to the league on September 4, 2020. The Florida native may report to the team but still won't be able to practice with the team until October 5, 2020.
Veteran holdovers in the linebacker trio of Leighton Vander Esch, Jaylon Smith, and Sean Lee remain to be in the mix for the Cowboys. Third-year player Vander Esch will be returning after a nerve issue surgery sidelined him for the latter half of last season.
Smith will also continue his upward progression as he enters his fourth season in the league. Meanwhile, the veteran Lee has not participated in training camp due to an undisclosed injury but will aim to play a big role once he returns to action. All three will be key towards controlling their counterparts' rushing yards tallied against them.
It turned out that last year's performance barely scratched the surface of the Cowboys' potential on the defensive end. The newly-acquired pieces could be pivotal for the Cowboys to reach greater heights in the upcoming season.
A revamped defensive line in Dallas should potentially spell danger for the rest of the league in 2020.
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