The Importance of Sam Williams Next Season
With the loss of longtime Dallas Cowboys DeMarcus Lawrence, several young players will be forced to step up their game this season. Marshawn Kneeland showed promise in his rookie season, being versatile in the run and pass game. Resigning former Cowboy Dante Fowler, who had 10.5 sacks last season, is another addition that should help fill the void of Lawrence. With all being said, the one player whose impact will massively determine the Cowboys’ D-line is upcoming fourth-year player Sam Williams, who missed all of last season with a season-ending injury in OTAs. The flashes he has shown, paired with his freak athleticism, could be the answer to being Micah Parsons’ new running mate.
The importance of Williams comes from the potential that has been displayed in his first two seasons. Despite only having eight and a half sacks in the two seasons, his God-given athleticism has been a show to watch, whether it is him picking up a running back and slamming him or even him lining up as the gunner in special teams. The only issue that has been recurring since his entrance to the league has been Williams's attraction to getting flags. Whether it is roughing the passer or a false start, these mental lapses have been the determining factor on whether the Cowboys’ defense stays on the field or gets off. The most notable instance was when the Cowboys could’ve forced the Packers to punt early in the 2023 wild card round, but a false start from Williams kept them on the field, which then led to a Packers opening drive touchdown.
With Williams returning for his fourth season and the biggest of his career, his performance will determine a lot for the Cowboys’ defense this year. With the loss of the aforementioned Lawrence, who is headed to Seattle, a lot of the Cowboys’ duties will lie in the hands of this young defensive edge group. Parsons has already set out and shown he is ready to take over and become the Cowboys’ leader on defense. Now all that’s left is for the young bucks to take that next step, and Sam Williams’s play on the field could determine the fate of this new Dallas defense.
