The Cowboys need their defense to be better in 2025 but these five concerns could be very costly following Micah Parsons trade

Is the Cowboys defense a bad unit?

Mauricio Rodriguez — Dallas Cowboys News Writer
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Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London (5) catches a pass for a touchdown past Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs (7) in the first quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London (5) catches a pass for a touchdown past Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs (7) in the first quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Brett Davis-Imagn Images

It’s easy to forget because the Dallas Cowboys had bigger problems in 2024—like a season-ending injury to Dak Prescott—but they had the second worst defense per points allowed. Going into the 2025 NFL season, it’s only fair to see the defensive unit as a cause for concern.

And yet, days ahead of the 2025 NFL season, I find myself wondering if the Cowboys defense should truly be worrying fans. It’s become somewhat of a habit to just say the defense has its issues. On a video for A to Z Sports Dallas, I mentioned it and a user kindly commented he didn’t know why was it that everyone acted as if the defense was worrying.

It’s a fair question. And it’s one I intend to break down right now. Below are five things that worry me about the Cowboys defense.

1. This was the NFL’s second worst defense in points allowed with Micah Parsons. Now what?

This is the obvious one. If the Cowboys defense already underperformed like it did in 2024, what should we expect out of it now that its best player is out of the picture? And make no mistake about it, Micah Parsons was the best player on the team before being traded to the Green Bay Packers.

Out of four seasons in the NFL, he’s been a legit Defensive Player of the Year candidate three times. The only exception was last year and that’s partly because he missed four games due to injury. He still manage to get 12 sacks and rank fifth in pressures. The four players ranked above him played 17 games compared to his 13.

There was no bigger impact player in Dallas. Losing a player like him is guaranteed to hurt. But how bad will it be?

2. The Cowboys have a deep group of DEs, but is there an ace?

On a related note to point No. 1 is the fact the Cowboys have depth at edge rusher. Dante Fowler Jr., Sam Williams, Marshawn Kneeland, James Houston, and rookie Donovan Ezeiruaku all showed flashes of dominant play in training camp and during the preseason. It’s one of the deepest units on the entire roster.

But can someone emerge as the true ace of the group? Is there a pass rusher reliable enough to stress offensive lines all across the line of scrimmage? A big part of the Cowboys’ defensive success since 2021 has been a result of finding the weakest link on opponents’ offensive lines and exploiting it through Parsons.

Now that’s not an option. Can someone step up?

3. Is the cornerback room good or a ticking time bomb?

With lesser pass rush, more responsibility will fall on the cornerbacks. Are they ready for the test?

Trevon Diggs remains unsure he will start Week 1 as he rehabs from a knee injury. Kaiir Elam has been a training camp standout but will his play translate to the regular season or will the former first rounder face similar problems to the ones he did in Buffalo? I’m not saying they’ll do poorly. But I am saying I need to see something to fully believe it here, especially if opposing quarterbacks won’t be dealing with Parsons.

4. How big of an impact will Kenny Clark make?

The Cowboys claim the Parsons trade wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for Clark’s involvement. In their eyes, the defensive tackle is a solution to a years-long problem of being unable to stop the run. Though it will be difficult to believe Dallas came out on top of the deal with the Packers, Clark being a game changer in the interior defensive line would sure make it easier.

That’s a tall task, though. Let’s see how much Clark is involved early on and how much of an immediate impact he’s able to make.

5. Can Matt Eberflus’ unit take the ball away?

The Cowboys defense doesn’t have the talent to be one of the league’s best on a down to down basis. But if they’re to rank as one of the league’s top squads, they’ll need to turn up the takeaways. Fortunately for Dallas, that’s been Matt Eberflus’ specialty in previous coaching stops.

However, relying on takeaways is always a dangerous game as sometimes luck abandons you in the most important games. Often the ones played in January.

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