Cowboys Draft To Form ‘Dynamic Duo' with Micah?

The Dallas Cowboys' run defense was nowhere close to meeting satisfaction in 2024. According to Pro Football Focus, the Cowboys' scored a 48.5 in stopping the run - ranked 30th in the NFL.

While Dallas dealt with multiple injuries throughout the season to their front seven, it still will be a point of emphasis for new defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus to address.

The front office also recognizes this. They've sured up some of the D-line by re-signing tackle Osa Odighizuwa and acquiring external free agents Solomon Thomas and Dante Fowler Jr. for depth.

What the Cowboys may still be lacking is youth on the interior next to 25-year-old All-Pro Micah Parsons.

PFF's Ryan Smith predicts the Cowboys to fix this problem by pursuing a promising edge rusher prospect to pair with Parsons in what would be a "dynamic duo" of elite athletes.

Smith says the Cowboys should go after Texas A&M edge Shemar Stewart in the first round of the NFL Draft in what would be one of the best prospect-athlete pairings of the Draft.

"No player has improved their draft stock more in the past few months than Shemar Stewart." Smith said. "Not only was he the most dominant player at the Senior Bowl, but he also followed it up with one of the best NFL Scouting Combine performances we’ve ever seen. Measuring in at 6-foot-5 and 267 pounds, the Texas A&M product had a Myles Garrett-like showing, running a 4.59-second 40-yard dash with a 40-inch vertical and a broad jump of 10 feet, 11 inches."

The athletic potential is there ... and they're undeniable when you imagine Stewart on the opposite side of the line as Micah - arguably the fastest edge rusher in the game.

Stewart's game experience offers a bit less to be excited about.

"There are questions about Stewart’s game from a production standpoint, as he never generated more than 1.5 sacks in a season at Texas A&M. While there is room for him to improve his pass-rushing toolbox, Stewart will enter the NFL as an elite run defender from day one. He ranked in the top five among all edge defenders with an 88.2 PFF run-defense grade last season."

His pass rush may need some work, but thankfully for Cowboys' fans, that is Parsons' strong suit. If Micah wants to step into a leadership position like he and coach Brian Schottenheimer have expressed, mentoring a young and developing Stewart may be a great opportunity.

Stewart will also be able to learn from one of the best at his position, and bring his natural run-stopping ability to an ailing Cowboys defense who needs that production.

The only problem? Stewart is ranked at 27 on PFF's big board. That is right in the middle of Dallas' first (No. 12) and second (No. 44) round selections.

This idea of trading back in the first round has been rumored for this year, and it's been demonstrated by Dallas many times before. If the timing is right, it can turn into a legit possibility.

Many expect the first pick to be a playmaking skill position if Dallas' top wide receiver or running back target is available at 12.

If not ... they may look to trade No. 12 for some added draft capital and move into a sweet spot that allows them to address their run defense by drafting Stewart.

A lot depends on how the early part of the first round shakes up, but the idea of pairing Shemar Stewart with Micah Parsons could motivate Jerry Jones & Co. to pull the trigger.

Also worth noting: Dallas has proven they have interest in the Aggie prospect. Stewart was in Frisco as one of the Cowboys' 30 visits invited to The Star leading up to the NFL Draft.