It's no secret the Dallas Cowboys defense is one of the best units in the entire NFL. 

Since Dan Quinn joined Mike McCarthy's staff in 2021, the Cowboys defense has ranked in the top 3 in EPA/play in back-to-back seasons, per RBSDM.com. Of course, Quinn's arrival was simultaneous with that of superstar Micah Parsons, which appears relevant.

In fact, after looking at the numbers closely, it appears to me the best position group in Dallas is the team's edge rushers. Not only that but it's the best group of EDGE defenders in the entire NFL.

Let's dive into the three reasons why I dare make such a claim and why I listed them as one of the best position groups in the NFL in a recent article.

1. Micah Parsons… duh.

I know this is obvious to point out but Parsons is in the conversation to be the best at what he does in the NFL. To me, that's the Cowboys' entry ticket to the conversation. If you're going to claim you have the best group of EDGE defenders, you must have a Parsons, Myles Garrett, Nick Bosa, or T.J. Watt.

Not only did he lead the league in total pressures and pass rush win rate, he did so while being double-teamed at the sixth-highest rate in the entire league.

Heck, Parsons was doubled way more often than Nick Bosa, Haason Reddick, and T.J. Watt. 

His versatility to rush from everywhere on the defensive line allows defensive coordinator Dan Quinn to come up with creative stunts and pressure designs that get his teammates in great positions to succeed.

If you want to claim you have the best edge rusher position group in the NFL, you need to have one of the very best players in your starting lineup. The Cowboys do, which is why Parsons has received Defensive Player of the Year votes in each of his two years in the pros.

2. Great rushers, great run defenders.

As understandable as it is that EDGE players get most of the love based on how much they produce as pass rushers, stopping the run counts. A lot. That's one area where the Cowboys seriously stand out over other units like the Philadelphia Eagles' and San Francisco 49ers'. 

It's DeMarcus Lawrence who really thrives in this area as he finished second in run-play stops per PFF and also led the NFL in run-stop win rate per ESPN. While not often ranked as one of the best edge defenders in the league, he's easily one of the most complete.

Both Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence finished in the Top 10 in defensive stops per PFF. 

"Not only does he disrupt the pass and force failed rushes in general, but he also has an unusual number of stops on high-leverage 3rd and 4th downs," wrote data analyst Daniel Houston (the man behind "Cowboys Stats and Graphics") in a tweet earlier this month.

3. Depth. Insane Depth.

Sam Williams' numbers are still very hard to believe. In less than a quarter of the defensive snaps, Williams totaled four sacks, 10 tackles for loss, earned nine QB hits, and forced a fumble while recovering three.

Now he's bound to make a jump in the depth chart as he competes with Dorance Armstrong and Dante Fowler Jr., who both had more playing time than Williams in 2022.

The depth of this group beyond Parsons and Lawrence is built differently than other teams. Here's the best part: Quinn will find ways to have three or four on the same field anyways!

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Featured image via  Jason Parkhurst-USA TODAY Sports