Dallas, TX
Will McClay confirms the Cowboys are looking to add more beef on the defensive line
Draft season is officially in full swing, with the 2024 NFL combine finishing up in Indianapolis. As teams have gotten a closer look at a long list of players that will be available in this year’s draft, the combine is also a great opportunity to gauge what types of players each team is looking for.
In the case of the Cowboys, one question on everyone’s minds is how the player evaluations change with Mike Zimmer arriving as the new defensive coordinator. Will McClay, the team’s vice president of player personnel and de facto draft czar, was asked that exact question in Indianapolis, and his answer was enlightening:
McClay made specific references to getting bigger twice in this interview, first saying that “this is a little different scheme, we’re looking for big, athletic football players.” Later, he said “we’re probably going to look more so at those bigger bodies on the inside, stopping that, and then we’re always looking for linebackers.”
McClay’s comments seem to suggest an internal emphasis on beefing up the middle of the defense with an eye towards stopping the run. That shouldn’t be a surprise, as solid run defense has always been a critical factor for Zimmer throughout his career, and the veteran coach has often sought out bigger bodies at defensive tackle and linebacker to get that done.
This should be music to Cowboys fans’ ears, as the run defense was consistently an area of concern in Dan Quinn’s three seasons as the defensive coordinator. To be clear, Quinn still produced some top-tier defenses each of those three years, but it was evident that Quinn wasn’t as interested in stopping the run as Zimmer is likely to be.
In fact, McClay and the Cowboys have already taken a step towards getting bigger on defense, as they selected Mazi Smith in the first round a year ago. Smith was a dominant run-stuffer at Michigan, where he weighed over 330 pounds and primarily played nose tackle. However, his rookie season saw Smith cut down to under 300 pounds and play a majority of his few snaps as a pass rushing 3-technique. This focus from McClay and Zimmer might suggest that Smith will be asked to bulk back up this offseason.
There are also quite a few defensive linemen in this draft that fit the bill of big and athletic, which makes McClay’s comments here all the more informative. Could the Cowboys once again target a big interior run-stuffer in the first round? That might not be the case, but there are plenty of players to watch at this combine.
T’Vondre Sweat is one of the more prominent names, as he’s been a fixture of the Texas Longhorns defense for the past few years. Sweat was one of the most dominant run defenders in college football this past year, and his 366-pound frame was a big factor in that. Despite that, Sweat posted a 5.27 40-yard dash time in Indianapolis, which is a big deal for a man his size.
Sweat isn’t the only big man in this draft coming out of the state of Texas. McKinnley Jackson in an Aggie man, having played at Texas A&M and making strides as a run-stuffer each year. Compared to Sweat, Jackson is as small as Deuce Vaughn, weighing in at “just” 326 pounds. He ran a 5.26 40, which isn’t as impressive as Sweat’s time comparatively speaking, but it does still reflect some solid athleticism for a bigger body.
McClay’s comments on looking for a linebacker also ring true, as Zimmer typically has worked with linebackers in the 240 to 250 pound range. There are a few prospects that fit that bill too, such as NC State’s Payton Wilson, Michigan’s Junior Colson, and Texas’ Jaylan Ford.
It should be noted that the Cowboys are reported to have held formal interviews at the combine with Colson, as well as Sweat and Jackson. They also had an informal interview with Ford.
It’s safe to say the Cowboys are doing their due diligence as it relates to their run defense, and their draft priorities may be changing to adjust to what Zimmer wants in his players. The Cowboys already have plenty of talent on this defense, but it looks like they’re now trying to supplement all that talent with some good, old fashioned beef.
5 teens hurt after police chase ends in crash
Five teenagers were hurt after a crime spree ended in a crash. Police say they found multiple handguns inside the vehicle after the crash, and all five teens were taken to the hospital.
DALLAS – Five teenagers were hospitalized late Tuesday night after crashing a carjacked sedan into a traffic light pole during a brief police chase, Dallas authorities said.
Carjacking and crash
What we know:
The incident began at 10:37 p.m. in Old East Dallas, where a man was carjacked at gunpoint by a group of armed juvenile suspects in the 4500 block of Live Oak Street, according to Dallas Police Department records. The suspects left the scene in the victim’s white Honda sedan.
Just before 11 p.m., a Flock license plate recognition camera flagged the stolen vehicle at an apartment complex in the 9400 block of Bruton Road in Pleasant Grove.
Responding patrol officers spotted the Honda traveling west on Bruton Road near South Buckner Boulevard. When officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop, the driver accelerated and sped off, initiating a pursuit.
The chase came to a violent end at 11:02 p.m. at the intersection of Bruton Road and Second Avenue. Police said the driver lost control of the sedan and slammed directly into a steel traffic signal support pole.
Officers found five teenagers inside the heavily damaged vehicle. Dallas Fire-Rescue paramedics took all five suspects to local hospitals. Police said some of the teenagers suffered serious injuries, but all are expected to survive.
Investigators recovered multiple handguns from inside the crashed vehicle.
What’s next:
Detectives from the Dallas Police Department’s robbery and vehicular crimes units, alongside crime scene investigators and patrol officers, are continuing to investigate the incident. Charges against the juveniles are pending.
The Source: Information in this article is from the Dallas Police officers at the scene.
Dallas, TX
Death penalty off the table for man accused of beheading Dallas motel manager, prosecutors say
In need of help on the edge, the Dallas Cowboys tried to make a huge move this offseason. They made multiple attempts to trade for Las Vegas Raiders superstar Maxx Crosby, but were never able to get a deal done.
Once that one was off the table, they decided to send a fourth round pick to the Green Bay Packers in exchange for veteran Rashan Gary. The move was criticized, which is rather confusing when you think about it. Dallas gave up a mid-round pick, and reworked his contract to where it hardly makes any impact on a salary cap. They also filled a position of a great need with a player who might not threaten to lead the league in sacks, but is well-rounded and can help against the run just as much as he does when rushing the passer.
Gary is entering his eighth season in the league and has 271 tackles and 46.5 sacks. He’s coming off another solid campaign, which is why he’s No. 9 on our list of top 10 players on the Cowboys’ roster.
Rashan Gary 2025 review
Gary’s numbers in 2025 were respectable, but could be misleading. He was on pace to record 18 sacks, as he had 7.5 through the first seven games of the year. He then disappeared for the final nine games, recording no sacks while struggling to generate pressure.
That led to his season as a whole being considered rather disappointing, which is why the Packers were willing to move on. It’s also why Dallas was able to convince him to take a pay cut after he joined their team. What was most frustrating for Green Bay was the fact that they needed him to step up when Micah Parsons suffered a torn ACL late in the year and Gary was unable to do so.
Rashan Gary 2026 prediction
One thing critics of the move are failing to see is the fact that Dallas doesn’t need Gary to record double-digit sacks. They need him to be the veteran voice for a group of young pass rushers who are trying to find their footing in the league.
Second year player, Donovan Ezeiruaku, and rookie Malachi Lawrence both have the talent to be game-changers off of the edge. What they don’t have, is the experience. That’s where Gary comes in.
As those two continue to develop, Gary will be the stabilizing veteran force who can make plays on early downs, while also being disruptive as a pass rusher. We can’t ignore the struggles that he had in 2025, but perhaps the change of scenery will give him some motivation to turn back the clock. And Dallas didn’t have to give up much to give him that opportunity.
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