The Dallas Cowboys lost a depth piece before the regular season even starts. Defensive lineman Charles Snowden faces a three-game suspension from the NFL, and the ripple effects could reshape the bottom of the Cowboys’ edge rusher depth chart heading into training camp at Oxnard, California, on July 28.

On Tuesday, the league announced Snowden’s suspension stemming from a DUI incident in Dec. 2024. The suspension does not affect his participation in training camp or preseason games and instead will take effect after roster cuts and ahead of the regular season, meaning Snowden would not be available until Week 4.

Availability could cost Snowden a spot on the Cowboys

Here’s the thing about Snowden’s situation: he was never a roster lock. He’s an undrafted free agent from the 2021 class that needs a strong training camo. He does have 18 starts over the past couple of seasons and recorded three sacks for the Las Vegas Raiders last season. But is he the kind of player who makes you accept a 3-game absence? I’m betting not. 

The Cowboys have three clear roster locks at edge rusher in Donovan Ezeiraku, Rashan Gary, and first-round rookie Malachi Lawrence. You can include fourth-round pick LT Overton on that list, though he might end up playing more as an interior defensive lineman, like head coach Brian Schottenheimer suggested after the NFL Draft. 

After those four, the competition gets crowded. Isaiah Land, a former Cowboys training camp standout who bounced to the Indianapolis Colts and back, is in the mix. James Houston was a preseason standout for Dallas last season, one of the best pass rushers on a mediocre defense in that area. The question with Houston is whether new defensive coordinator Christian Parker values him the way former coordinator Matt Eberflus did. There’s also Tyrus Wheat, who provides position versatility that Parker might appreciate.

They say one of the most important things in the NFL is availability. We typically think about that in terms of injuries, but suspensions fall into the same bucket. If you’re giving reps in practice to bottom-of-the-depth-chart players to evaluate who makes the team and who doesn’t, availability should play a major role. And Snowden simply won’t be available when it counts. That will matter when the Cowboys determine who gets what reps in camp. 

Marist Liufau could be the biggest winner

I want to say this with a grain of salt, because you never want to see a teammate get suspended. But from a roster-building perspective, outside linebacker Marist Liufau seems like a potential winner out of this news.

Liufau is one of the more fascinating roster bubble players in camp. The Cowboys moved him to outside linebacker to use him as an edge rusher in Parker’s scheme. When the position change was first announced, my brain immediately went: he’s done. 

But I’ve reconsidered (or forced to, more like). Parker revealed he reached out to Liufau’s college coaches at Notre Dame to ask what they thought was best for him. I’ve talked to our own Ryan Roberts, who covers Notre Dame sports for A to Z Sports, and he confirmed this was a genuine debate when Liufau was with the Fighting Irish. There was no consensus on where he should play, and they experimented with his positioning.

Additionally, Cowboys national scout Ross Wuensche said on the Crown Global Media podcast that Liufau could be a “cool matchup piece” for the defense thanks to his versatility. And there’s this: Liufau played the most special teams snaps of anyone currently on the Cowboys roster. The only player who had him beat was CJ Goodwin, who recently retired from the NFL. That matters when talking about roster bubble candidates. 

How the depth chart puzzle fits together

The real question is what the Cowboys think they’re missing at outside linebacker. In Gary, they have a reliable run defender who will be on the field for early downs. On passing downs, they might want to give Lawrence, who was drafted for his pass rush repertoire, more reps alongside Ezeiruaku.

If that’s the plan, someone like Houston becomes somewhat redundant as a third-down specialist, whereas Liufau’s versatility and special teams value offer something different. Snowden was more of a balanced player from his time with the Raiders, but that balance doesn’t help you if he’s not available.

The Cowboys are losing someone to a suspension who was not even a guarantee to make the roster. I don’t think you’re going to give reps to Snowden that could go to players available for Week 1. It would feel like a waste.

For now, we wait. Training camp starts July 28 and this will be a top story to watch.