(Editor’s Note: Time to check the mail! The DallasCowboys.com staff writers answer your questions here in ‘Mailbag’ presented by Miller Lite.)
It seems like the Cowboys have struggled to consistently draft defensive players while they are one of the best at drafting offensive guys. Is there a reason why? Are some teams just better at evaluating and selecting talent on one side of the ball than the other? What’s the fix?–Mitchell Harris*/Phoenix*,AZ
Patrik: I don’t think it’s a problem on a macro scale for the Cowboys. This is the same team that found a First-team All-Pro in the fifth round (DaRon Bland), and granted Bland has struggled with availability but that doesn’t change the fact. Recently, there’s plenty of promise from Shemar James, a late-round pick, and I suspect Marist Liufau was simply held back by the 2025 defensive coaching staff, given the fact he fired out of the gate as a rookie in 2024. I can continue here, e.g., DeMarvion Overshown, Osa Odighizuwa, even mentioning the upside on the late Marshawn Kneeland, so, no, I don’t think there’s an overarching issue scouting and drafting defense. Oh, and they drafted Micah Parsons, so there’s that. I think it’s more true that the Cowboys’ mistakes are amplified (though the whiff on Mazi Smith, Taco Charlton were admittedly tied to their first-round status). Every team has misses … but tell me about the Jaguars’ or Panthers’ misses, if you can. Thus, my point.