The Dallas Cowboys continued in the reshaping their defensive end rotation this offseason. Of course the lead dog remains the lead dog; Micah Parsons is one of one, on the team and in the league as the preeminent young pass rusher. Almost everything else around him has changed over the last two offseasons. Gone are Dorance Armstrong and DeMarcus Lawrence, respectively leaving over the last two offseasons.
Dante Fowler left, and came back this offseason, and the team has drafted both Marshawn Kneeland and Donovan Ezeiruaku in the second round of the last two drafts. In addition to signing Fowler, the Cowboys have brought in Payton Turner and Solomon Thomas as well. One might forget a player that was at the bottom of the roster, but Tyrus Wheat played an important number of snaps last season, and he’s going to try and work his way into the rotation in 2025.
Rundown
Position: Defensive End
Age: 25
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 260 pounds
Hometown: Amite, LA
High School: Amite
College: Mississippi State (Highlight Video)
Draft: 2023 UDFA
Contract: One-year deal (2025), $1 million
Career Earnings: $1.7 million (per Over The Cap)
Profile
Wheat saw 165 defensive snaps last year, a five-time increase from the limited action he saw as a rookie and indicative of the hard work he’s done to try and be a contributor. The question is whether or not he can make the roster now that the Cowboys have invested so many roster spots on new additions to the position.
Six of the eight at the position are either first or second-round picks; all except for Wheat and Luigi Vilain. With Sam Williams making his return to add to the free agent (Thomas, Turner) and draft (Ezeiruaku) additions, the lack of pedigree could relegate Wheat to the practice squad.