Williams joined the Cowboys’ defensive entrance in 2022 after getting drafted out of Ole Miss within the second spherical. His rookie 12 months noticed him buried on the depth chart behind Micah Parsons, DeMarcus Lawrence, Dorance Armstrong, and Dante Fowler, but he nonetheless managed to tally 4 sacks whereas rotating in. He additionally confirmed his disruptive nature in different methods, ending solely behind Parsons with 10 tackles for loss.
In his sophomore marketing campaign, Williams labored his well past Fowler on the depth chart and even outproduced Lawrence, ending the season third on the crew in sacks with 4.5. Professional Soccer Focus (subscription required) has been pleasant to Williams over time, rating him because the 54th-best move rusher of 119 in 2022 and the 51st out of 112 in 2023 — each years in restricted time. Final 12 months, PFF graded him with the Thirty seventh-best pass-rushing grade.
Thus far, well being had hardly been a difficulty for Williams. In two years of NFL play, Williams solely missed two video games, each in his rookie season and considered one of them was the results of a automotive accident. He was arrested shortly earlier than the 2023 season however didn’t find yourself lacking any time because of the incident.
With two of his opponents for snaps, Armstrong and Fowler, now set to take beginning reps for the division-rival Commanders, Williams was in line for a bigger duty and snap share in 2024. After working fifth and fourth on the depth chart in his first two seasons, Williams had as soon as once more labored his approach up and was set to run because the third defensive finish for the 12 months.
The crew utilized a second-round choose on Western Michigan’s Marshawn Kneeland in April to assist reduce the impression of Armstrong and Fowler’s departures, however now, Kneeland will doubtless be requested to step up into the function Williams was arrange for. Kneeland wasn’t an elite move rusher for the Broncos, solely amassing 13.0 in 5 years; his seasons in school truly a lot resembled the NFL manufacturing of Williams’ first two years, so maybe he’s well-equipped to step into that function.
Until Dallas turns to the veteran free-agent market, which they might need to do, the Cowboys must depend on different gamers for that misplaced depth. Viliami Fehoko returns in 2024. A fourth-round rookie final 12 months, Fehoko didn’t make any recreation appearances earlier than being positioned on injured reserve with a knee harm in mid-November. He was activated in January however nonetheless didn’t see the sector. Tyrus Wheat is the opposite depth possibility after showing in 12 video games for the Cowboys final 12 months as an undrafted rookie.
Whereas that will not be sufficient for Dallas, they usually might have to hunt some free agent assist, one factor that’s sure is that Williams will be unable to contribute. That makes 2025 a vital 12 months for Williams as will probably be the ultimate 12 months of his rookie contract and his remaining probability to indicate what he can carry to a protection that already rosters an All-Professional star in Parsons.
