I understand the restraints of the salary cap right now, but any hope we look outside the organization for someone to replace Sam Williams? With the loss of Williams, Dante Fowler and Dorance Armstrong, it's hard to swallow the concept of someone currently on the roster filling those shoes. This is a massive blow to the depth chart. – Rob Riggieri/Rutland, MA
Nick Eatman: Yeah, this is one of those things where you use the time of training camp to see how some of the younger guys develop with the extra reps but at the same time, doing the extra research on the veterans that are available. I agree, losing one defensive end is one thing but three? That's too much to take even if you do have seven combined Pro Bowls among the defensive ends in Parsons and Lawrence. I would think the Cowboys would have to look at bringing in someone right now, but if not, just try to develop the guys here and then attack the waiver wire at the end of camp when those guys become available.
Kurt: The Cowboys obviously had high hopes that Williams would help make up for the 11.5 sacks that Armstrong and Fowler provided last year, and now you can throw in the 4.5 that Williams himself recorded as well. Certainly not good. I do think no stone will go unturned in an effort to fill that void, but I'm not sure I would expect any great savior to come walking through the door. According to Spotrac.com, the Cowboys have over $11 million in cap space available to them, and hopefully they'll be able create more room once one of these big deals gets done. But will they really spend all that much right now given the contract issues they are still facing in the future? We may be looking at a one-year deal for a prove-it type player, which they've had some success with in the past. They could also try to work out a trade, but where on the roster do they have enough depth? Will they weaken one position to try to strengthen another? Maybe so. The Cowboys do have some promising young talent and, of course, as long as Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence are on the field, the defense should be able to create some pressure. But it remains to be seen what will happen when those two are not. This was indeed a massive blow.
