Cowboys Know They Need More Pass Rushers

Dallas looking to add talent at edge rusher position ahead of 2026 season

Mar. 31, 2026 at 3:23pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fractured, multi-angle view of a Dallas Cowboys pass rush play, using muted earth tones to conceptually represent the team's need to strengthen its edge defense.A deconstructed view of the Dallas Cowboys' pass rush highlights the team's need to continue upgrading its edge defenders.Dallas Today

The Dallas Cowboys are aware they need to continue bolstering their pass rush this offseason, with edge rusher being a top priority. While the addition of Rashan Gary via trade was a decent move, the team still lacks sufficient talent opposite him, and is exploring options in free agency and the upcoming draft to address the issue.

Why it matters

The Cowboys' pass rush was inconsistent last season, and they know having a strong group of edge rushers is crucial to pressuring opposing quarterbacks. Improving the defensive front is a key focus for the team as they look to contend in 2026.

The details

The Cowboys traded for Rashan Gary from the Packers, but he struggled in the second half of last season. Their 2025 second-round pick Donovan Ezeiruaku had just 2 sacks, and the Marist Liufau experiment is still unproven. Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones emphasized the importance of having multiple effective pass rushers, saying 'you can't have enough' to pressure the QB. The team did try to trade for Maxx Crosby from the Raiders but were outbid by the Ravens. Dallas is exploring free agent options like Haason Reddick, Jadeveon Clowney, and Jonathan Greenard via trade, and is expected to target an edge rusher early in the 2026 draft.

  • The Cowboys traded for Rashan Gary from the Packers prior to the 2026 season.
  • Donovan Ezeiruaku, a 2025 second-round pick, had 2 sacks last season.

The players

Rashan Gary

An edge rusher acquired by the Cowboys in a trade with the Green Bay Packers.

Donovan Ezeiruaku

A 2025 second-round draft pick of the Cowboys who had 2 sacks last season.

Marist Liufau

A player the Cowboys are experimenting with at the edge rusher position.

Stephen Jones

The Executive Vice President of the Dallas Cowboys.

Maxx Crosby

An edge rusher for the Las Vegas Raiders that the Cowboys tried to trade for but were outbid by the Baltimore Ravens.

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What they’re saying

“Oh, you can't have enough pass rushers in this league. You want to get pressure on the quarterback. Like it's well said and I've written 100 times, every quarterback's Krytonite is pressure.”

— Stephen Jones, Executive Vice President, Dallas Cowboys

What’s next

The Cowboys are expected to target an edge rusher early in the 2026 NFL Draft, as it is considered a deep class at the position.

The takeaway

Improving the pass rush is a top priority for the Dallas Cowboys this offseason, as they look to build a more consistent and dominant defensive front. The team knows they need to add more talent at edge rusher to consistently pressure opposing quarterbacks.