Dallas Cowboys defensive end Sam Williams might not have much of a future with the Dallas Cowboys based on his slow start to the 2025 NFL season.
The Cowboys have a massive void in their pass rush following the preseason Micah Parsons trade, and Williams hasn't filled it. Instead, the fourth-year defender's increased responsibilities have highlighted the team's most pressing defensive deficiency.
Entering Monday, the Cowboys rank 28th in scoring defense (30.7 points allowed per game) and 30th in total defense (397.7 yards allowed per game). Among teams that have played at least three games, only the Philadelphia Eagles, Tennessee Titans, and Carolina Panthers have fewer sacks than Dallas, and Williams has played a big role in those struggles.
If he doesn't turn things around soon, his Dallas future could be in jeopardy.
Sam Williams Isn't Taking Advantage of Golden Opportunity
Through three games, Williams has yet to record a sack while tallying seven total pressures. His 54.0 Pro Football Focus pass rush grade is only the 118th-best mark among 148 graded exterior defenders.
Per Fansided senior NFL contributor Marcus Mosher, Williams has two pressures in his past 46 pass-rush snaps with an 8.7% pass-rush win rate. The former 2022 second-rounder only pressured the Chicago Bears once on Sunday, ending the game with a missed tackle and a penalty. He also played only 54.2% of the Cowboys defensive snaps, which is his smallest share in 2025.
It would be wise for Dallas to look at other in-house options at edge-rusher, both for the rest of 2025 and as the franchise looks toward the future. Recently signed defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, who was inactive against the Bears, might not have much left in the tank at 32, but he can still be disruptive in clear passing situations. Donovan Ezeiruaku, a 2025 second-rounder, would also be worth giving a closer look, as would free-agent signee James Houston.
Williams is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, adding to his need for a turnaround.
After tallying 8.5 sacks during his first two seasons, he missed 2024 with a torn ACL and MCL. Despite those injuries, the Cowboys were willing to roll the dice on Williams to fill Parsons' void. Unless things change soon, it's looking like this will be a one-year experiment.