Training camp is just about upon us, and the Dallas Cowboys look to hit the ground running once they arrive in Oxnard, California.
The temperatures may be in the 70s, but the players themselves won’t escape the heat of competition.
I’ve mentioned before how the Cowboys have a very competitive roster.
This is especially true in the defensive end room.
Several players will be fighting for as little as five spots on the gameday roster.
A small amount of players will be locks, but the rest of them will be in a tough battle to wear the star on their helmet in 2023.
To catch yourself up on previously published training camp battles, use the following links.
Defensive End
Established Starter(s): DeMarcus Lawrence, Micah Parsons
Battle for Backup: Dorance Armstrong, Sam Williams, Dante Fowler Jr., Viliami “Junior” Fehoko
Evaluating the defensive ends this offseason will be the Cowboys’ coaches biggest headache.
Not because the position is bereft of talent, but because there is too much of it!
There is somewhat of an asterisk on the established starters I have listed above.
DeMarcus Lawrence is the de facto starter on the left side of the defense, but usually gives up his spot to Micah Parsons on passing downs.
Even though he might not start the game on that left side, it is the best spot for arguably the best pass rusher in the NFL.
Technically, the starter on the right side of the defense is Dorance Armstrong, but I truly believe he will be given a run for his money by Sam Williams.
For that reason, Armstrong is included in the battle of the backups.
Dorance Armstrong
Armstrong is another in a long line of later round draft picks that have established themselves as impact starters for the Cowboys defense.
Entering his sixth season, Armstrong will have to continue his stellar play to hold off younger players.
He has 16.0 sacks to his name, with his best season being just last year in 2022 after receiving a big contract extension.
Armstrong doesn’t just get to the quarterback, but is also one of the team’s best run defenders.
The starting job at right defensive end is his to lose.
Sam Williams
If “making the most of your opportunities” had a name, it would be Sam Williams.
As a rookie 2nd round pick from Ole Miss, Williams played only 27% of the defensive snaps.
With those 273 snaps, Big Sam recorded 4.0 sacks, 10 tackles for loss, 9 QB hits, and 3 fumble recoveries.
Imagine those stats extrapolated at twice the amount of snaps.
That’s a real possibility for 2023 if Williams can turn a strong rookie season into a starting sophomore campaign.
Dante Fowler Jr.
Dante Fowler Jr. is one of those Dan Quinn guys who stick around based on certain traits they bring to the team.
For Fowler, those traits are leadership and rushing the passer.
In his first year with Dallas in 2022, the former number three overall pick posted 6.0 sacks, 7 tackles for loss, and 9 QB hits.
He did this primarily as a pass rush specialist, ceding early down snaps to other players.
Fowler is at his best when he can just pin his ears back and rush the passer.
Otherwise, he is a liability against the run, and that’s the reason he played only six snaps in the Divisional round loss at San Francisco.
Viliami “Junior” Fehoko
As verified by WR Simi Fehoko, the two are of no relation.
With a cousin on the team or not, Viliami “Junior” Fehoko looks to make an early impact on this Cowboys team.
The Cowboys spent a 4th round pick on the young defensive stud, and he looks to immediately jump into the rotation.
One of the reasons the Cowboys used a mid round pick on him is because he has a trait Dallas covets: versatility.
Fehoko is big and physical enough to move inside to defensive tackle on passing downs if needed.
That flexibility will likely land him a spot in the regular defensive line rotation.
Prediction
If the Cowboys decide to keep six defensive ends on the roster, then all of these players will make the cut.
However, I do think it’s possible they bump that number down to five on certain weeks.
Should that happen, I believe Fowler and Fehoko would be the players left on the outside of the bubble based on the matchup.
My biggest prediction from this list is that second year player Sam Williams will be the starting right defensive end over Armstrong in Week 1.
As a matter of fact, should the Cowboys find themselves in trouble at another position, Armstrong may be viewed as a surplus and used in a trade.
However it shakes out, the defensive end room may end up being the most competitive of the whole camp.
