When we examined roster questions on the offense for the rest of the season, the Dallas Cowboys had just dropped to 3-7. Making the playoffs was a long shot.
After the Cowboys dropped to 5-8 on Monday, calling the playoffs a “long shot” would be generous. Still, there are four games left in the regular season. Their defense was dealt a significant blow with the terrible knee injury to DeMarvion Overshown against the Cincinnati Bengals, which could keep him out until 2026.
What questions about the defense should be on your radar over the next four weeks? Let’s take a look.
What can Mazi Smith do well?
For those holding out hope that Mazi Smith would announce his arrival in Year 2 after a rough rookie season, the clock is ticking. Smith has flashed more than what he did in 2023, but that was a low bar. The consistency hasn’t been there unless he’s lined up against the New York Giants.
Evaluating Smith can be challenging. In the past five seasons for Smith, he’s had five defensive coordinators — three in his last three years at Michigan, Dan Quinn last year and Mike Zimmer this year. Depending on how decisions shake out after the season, Smith could have a new coordinator in 2025, too.
The chatter during training camp was how he was bound to take a big step forward because Zimmer’s scheme would be more friendly to Smith’s strengths than Quinn’s was. The issue two years into Smith’s NFL career hasn’t just been scheme related, it’s also consisted of fundamental physical things you’d like to see from the defensive tackle position.
Smith is playing roughly half the defensive snaps per game. What Smith puts on tape the rest of the way could shape how the 2025 defensive coordinator views him as part of the defense.
| SEASON | G-GS | TKL | S-A | SACKS | TFL | QBH | SNAP % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2024
|
13-3
|
32
|
16-16
|
0.5
|
3
|
2
|
49%
|
|
2023
|
17-3
|
16
|
9-4
|
1.0
|
3
|
3
|
28%
|
Which veterans should be on the priority list to re-sign?
DeMarcus Lawrence was drafted by the Cowboys in 2014, 18 picks after they selected Zack Martin in the first round. The vibes around Martin seem to indicate that he could walk away after this season, but Lawrence seems to want to continue to play. He got off to a fantastic start this season but was injured in a Week 4 win over the Giants and hasn’t played since. He won’t play this weekend, either, leaving just three games for his return — if he returns at all. The Cowboys will need to balance Lawrence’s stellar play earlier this season with his age and injury history when considering his future.
Before Monday night, it would be easy to say that Eric Kendricks served his role this year as the bridge to the next wave of linebackers for the Cowboys. But with Overshown possibly missing all of 2025, the Cowboys will be thin at the position. Kendricks has been decent but he’s a Zimmer guy, so his return might be contingent on what happens at defensive coordinator after the season.
Jourdan Lewis returned from his career-threatening injury a couple of years ago and has played at a high level. His work this season in the slot has been excellent, and although he’ll be 30 when next season begins, extending him would make a lot of sense for the Cowboys.
Defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa is not only a good player but also plays at a position where the Cowboys have few other formidable options. Dallas needs to upgrade at defensive tackle in the offseason, especially if Smith shows to be nothing more than a depth piece. But does that upgrade happen in addition to bringing Odighizuwa back or does the entire look of that position get reworked? Odighizuwa has proved himself to be a capable defensive tackle, and as long as he comes at a reasonable price, the Cowboys should want him back in the mix.
The veteran players truly auditioning the rest of the season are Chauncey Golston and Israel Mukuamu. You can throw in Juanyeh Thomas there, as well, although he’s more of a special teamer than a factor on defense. Golston and Mukuamu have shown promise to varying degrees, but the book isn’t complete. The next four games will be important for them.
How to proceed with DaRon Bland’s contract situation?
Micah Parsons’ contract will be the biggest order of business in the 2025 offseason, but DaRon Bland’s contract is looming, as well. Next season will be the last year of Bland’s rookie deal, and there’s a legitimate case to be made that he’s the best cornerback on the team. Do the Cowboys lock him down in the offseason or let him play out his rookie deal?
The Cowboys signed Trevon Diggs to a five-year, $97 million extension last year, which keeps him in Dallas through 2028. There is a potential out in 2025. How does the big investment at the position impact negotiations with Bland? Diggs, Bland and Lewis finally got on the field together Monday for the first time since Week 2 of last year. If they can stay healthy and play the rest of the season, the Cowboys could get a feel for what the secondary could look like for the next few years.
Did Mike Zimmer get a fair shot?
This question could be moot if there’s a change at head coach, but there seems to be a legitimate belief that Mike McCarthy will be back in 2025. If McCarthy returns, does he keep Zimmer? The defense struggled early in the season, namely against the New Orleans Saints and Baltimore Ravens, even when most of the players were healthy and available (aside from Bland and Sam Williams). However, the unit has looked better in recent weeks.
The big hype with Zimmer’s defense was going to be his diverse usage of Parsons, but then Parsons got hurt and missed four games. The defensive end position was hit hard by injuries, limiting how much Zimmer could use Parsons elsewhere. With Overshown out for the season, the Cowboys could be forced to play Parsons at linebacker situationally, out of necessity.
The adjustment to a new system always takes time, and that’s before you even factor in the run of injuries the Cowboys defense has endured this season.
(Top photo of Mazi Smith: Sarah Stier / Getty Images)
