"The Senior Bowl showed me exactly where the Cowboys need help heading into the 2026 NFL Draft, not that it wasn't obvious, and it is exactly where people think. I watched the first couple days of Senior Bowl practices and saw guys fighting for their futures and somehow get coming back to the same thought about the Cowboys. This team isn't missing talent, it's missing balance. The middle of the offensive line is fine in Dallas, but the edges aren't. Also, the defense, oh my the defense, doesn't have enough players who can affect the quarterback when the game needs it."
"The Cowboys Don't Have an Interior Line Issue This is where the conversation sometimes gets lazy. Tyler Smith is rock solid, the interior depth is solid, Dallas can line up their guys inside and hold its own against just about anyone. What keeps showing up in big games is pressure coming off the tackles. Tyler Guyton could come out next year and be an All-Pro, who really knows, but Terence Steele is becoming a liability in the passing game. The Cowboys have an offensive tackle problem and it's not a secret."
"The Senior Bowl Tackles That Actually Fit Dallas This is why the Senior Bowl matters. You're watching linemen handle real NFL-level athletes in space. Gennings Dunker-OT, Iowa Dunker isn't exciting, until he is. He has a nasty streak and stays where he's supposed to be. That alone would make a noticeable difference for this offense. Dametrious Crownover-OT, Texas A&M Long, athletic, but still seems to be figuring things out. Does that sound familiar? Crownover is the type of player a staff convinces itself it can mold into something better. Trey Zuhn III-OT, Texas A&M Zuhn is a former blue-chip recruit who still has room to grow. He's not a finished product, but there's enough there to take the chance. None of these names sell jerseys, except maybe Dunker. He's fun. But all of them could help fans relax a little more on third-and-long."
The Cowboys have a strong interior offensive line anchored by Tyler Smith and reliable depth. The primary weakness is at offensive tackle, where pressure frequently comes off the edges and Terence Steele is increasingly a liability in pass protection. The defense lacks enough players who can consistently affect the quarterback late in games, leaving the team short on true pass-rush impact. Senior Bowl practices highlighted several tackles who could fit Dallas, including Gennings Dunker, Dametrious Crownover, and Trey Zuhn III. Addressing edge tackle play and adding defensive pass-rushers in the 2026 draft would improve roster balance.
Read at Inside The Star
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