Yardbarker
x
Dallas Cowboys’ 4-Sack Defense Needs Carl Granderson
Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

The Cowboys’ defense ranks last in the NFL with only four sacks, 13 QB hits, and 50 hurries. A trade for Saints defensive end Carl Granderson could transform their struggling pass rush.

Dallas’ Pass Rush Has Disappeared

The Dallas Cowboys’ defense has collapsed in 2025, and the numbers make it impossible to ignore. Through the opening month of the season, Dallas has produced just four sacks, thirteen quarterback hits, and fifty hurries.

That adds up to only sixty-seven total pressures, which leaves the Cowboys ranked dead last in the NFL. For a franchise that has long relied on its defensive front to set the tone, the falloff has been dramatic and costly.

Quarterbacks facing Dallas have been given clean pockets to operate from, and the results have been disastrous for the secondary.

Opposing passers are completing more than eighty percent of their throws, piling up over twelve hundred yards and ten touchdowns, while enjoying a near-perfect passer rating.

The lack of disruption at the line of scrimmage is the foundation of the Cowboys’ defensive struggles, and unless it is addressed, the season could continue to spiral downward.

Why Carl Granderson Fits the Need

The solution for Dallas has to start with a proven edge rusher who can actually finish plays, and Carl Granderson is exactly that.

With the New Orleans Saints, Granderson has quietly developed into one of the most reliable pass rushers in the league.

He has one eight-sack season and numerous five or more sack seasons, while regularly topping thirty hurries, showing both consistency and durability in one of football’s toughest roles.

Granderson combines length, urgency, and discipline, which makes him equally effective against the pass and the run.

For the Cowboys, that skill set is invaluable. They don’t need another developmental prospect or rotational piece; they need someone who can step into the starting lineup and immediately upgrade a unit that has been unable to get home.

Granderson is that type of player.

His track record proves that he is more than capable of delivering the sacks and hits that Dallas has been missing, and his presence would demand attention from opposing offensive lines in a way no current Cowboy edge rusher does.

How He Changes the Cowboys’ Defense

Dallas is averaging just one sack per week. That kind of production almost guarantees failure in today’s NFL, where games are increasingly decided by how well a defense can affect the quarterback.

Granderson has shown he can produce at a high level, and his addition would raise the floor of the entire front four.

The Cowboys have generated fifty hurries so far this year, but most of those plays have not impacted the rhythm of opposing quarterbacks, who are still completing passes with ease.

Granderson has proven that he can convert pressures into results, collapsing pockets and forcing throws off schedule.

Beyond his pass-rushing ability, Granderson also brings much-needed stability in run defense. Dallas has already missed forty-three tackles this season, an issue that has led to extended drives and explosive gains after contact.

Granderson plays with the kind of edge-setting consistency that prevents those lapses, forcing runs back inside and cleaning up opportunities when they present themselves.

His presence would allow the Cowboys’ linebackers and secondary to play faster and more aggressively without worrying about losing containment on the outside.

Why a Trade Makes Sense Now

The Saints are in a position where moving a veteran like Granderson is possible, and the Cowboys are in a position where acquiring him is almost essential.

New Orleans has been open to discussions about defensive pieces as it retools its roster, and Dallas has the draft capital to make a midseason deal work.

For the Cowboys, the real cost isn’t in the pick they’d have to give up but in what will happen if they do nothing.

Granderson Could Be the Turning Point

The Dallas Cowboys have an offensive roster built to compete in the NFC, but their defense has let them down at every turn. The statistics are brutal: just four sacks, thirteen quarterback hits, and fifty hurries, all of which add up to a league-worst pass rush.

Without immediate reinforcements, this season could slip away before midseason. Carl Granderson represents the type of move that can change that reality.

He is proven, productive, and versatile, and he addresses the exact problem that is currently sinking Dallas.

A trade for Granderson would not solve every issue on defense, but it would provide the Cowboys with the kind of reliable edge presence they desperately lack.

If Dallas wants to salvage its season and restore hope to its defense, the time to act is now, and Granderson is the player who can make that happen.

This article first appeared on Inside The Star and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads:

Customize Your Newsletter

Yardbarker +

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!