Feb. 1, 2026, 10:03 a.m. CT
The Dallas Cowboys are in the middle of interviewing and hiring defensive assistants who will look to help the team \ transition from the 4-3 front they have used for many years. With the team trading for two defensive tackles last season after rewarding DT Osa Odighizuwa with a new deal, they now have three players at the same position all making over $20 million a season. A switch to a 3-4 front could make a lot of sense.
Dallas has some of the pieces to make that front work, but besides Donovan Ezeiruaku, the edge spot doesn’t have the type of pass rushers that system needs to flourish. The team could bring back Jadeveon Clowney or find someone in free agency, but Dallas has always been a draft-and-develop team. They could be looking to fill that role with another young player to grow with Ezeiruaku over the next few seasons.
Here are some options Cowboys fans should keep an eye out for.
Cashius Howell, Texas A&M
Cashius Howell is the perfect type of edge to pair with the current defensive line in Dallas. He has three seasons of proven production in pressures and sacks. In 2025, he was a unanimous All-American and the SEC Defensive Player of the Year. He accumulated 11.5 sacks, 41 pressures, and 14 tackles for a loss in his final college season. Howell uses a quick get-off, excellent burst, and great bend to beat tackles around the edge, and he has a counter-spin if the offensive tackle gets outside too quickly.
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Howell has size issues that could hinder him in setting the edge against the run. He also needs to develop his ability to mix up his rushes so tackles can’t time his speed. These are things that can be improved through coaching and development, but if Dallas signs a veteran edge who allows Howell to be mainly a designated pass rusher, he could be a major contributor from day one as a rookie.
Romello Height, Texas A&M
Romello Height played opposite of David Bailey, one of the best pass rushers in the draft, but people watching Texas A&M to see Bailey would turn their heads to Height in some contests. The Utah Utes have two potential first-round tackles, and while Bailey struggled in his matchups, Height dominated. Anytime a prospect can deliver that kind of performance when he is facing another top-end prospect, it can’t go unnoticed.
Height wins with an incredible first step. He instantly threatens the linemen across from him, which improves his pass rush by forcing many tackles to be reactive. Height’s pass-rush moves are extensive and include feints and counters, with a game plan for how to use them to set up future moves.
His negatives include his size, age, and the possibility that his excellent surroundings at Texas A&M could have elevated his play. If he were two years younger and 15 pounds heavier, he’d be a lock first-round pick, but he is the type of player Dallas could trade back and land at the back of the first round and still be a double-digit sack player for the team.
Akheem Mesidor, Miami (FL)
Akheem Mesidor was a key factor in the Miami Hurricanes’ near upset of the Indiana Hoosiers in the National Championship game, pressuring quarterback Fernando Mendoza and leading the team with two sacks. He isn’t the same type of smaller, speed-based edge as Howell and Height, relying more on a blend of all-around pass-rush skill. His extra 20-25 pounds allow him to use more impactful power rushes and counters, but he can win with solid burst and bend as well. He isn’t likely to be a regular double-digit sack merchant, but he could be a plus run defender who could be in the eight-sack range and hit 10 or more on occasion. At his best, Dallas could have a Demarcus Lawrence replacement in Mesidor.
His limitations start with his age. He will be 25 when the season begins. He has also had medical issues stemming from problems with his feet. If his medicals aren’t red flags, his age shouldn’t impact Dallas much because they need instant-impact edge players to maximize their Super Bowl window with Dak Prescott.
You can find Mike Crum on Twitter @cdpiglet or on YouTube at Across the Cowboys podcast