The Dallas Cowboys lost one of the best pass rushers in the game. Not many teams would've survived losing Micah Parsons, at least early on, and, unfortunately, they weren't the exception to that rule.
Expecting someone to replace Parsons is a tall order, and it might not be realistic. However, with one full year of experience under his belt, an improved supporting cast, and more opportunities, Donovan Ezeiruaku can, at least, be in the conversation. That also brings up the Cowboys' recent history at second-round talent, which has come up short multiple times at this point.
Considering that, Brad Gagnon of Bleacher Report chose Ezeiruaku as the Cowboys' most important second-year player ahead of the 2026 season. He has an opportunity to start, and the potential is clear.
Donovan Ezeiruaku can finally break the curse of second-round draft duds
"Ezeiruaku had just two sacks despite taking more than 600 snaps as a rookie second-round selection," wrote Gagnon. "He did, however, post a top-five pass-rushing grade among qualified rookies at Pro Football Focus, and he could benefit from more talent elsewhere on the edge in Christian Parker's intriguing new defense. "
Ezeiruaku entered the league tabbed as one of the potential steals of the NFL Draft. He posted 20.5 tackles for loss and 16.5 sacks in his final collegiate season, and while he wasn't going to put up those same numbers right out of the gate, he probably should've played more under Matt Eberflus.
Instead, he started only nine of 17 games, playing 603 snaps. Even so, he had 40 total tackles, 36 total pressures, 12 quarterback hits, nine tackles for loss, and 2.0 sacks. Pro Football Focus gave him a 73.1 grade, ranking 38th among 115 edge rushers, which isn't too bad for a rotational rookie on the league's worst defense.
The Cowboys added Malachi Lawrence to the mix this offseason, but with Jadeveon Clowney a UFA and Dante Fowler Jr. gone, the job should be Ezeiuruaku's to lose. It's hard to believe the defense can fare any worse under Christian Parker, and with a longer leash, he should flirt with double-digit sacks.
Second-round pick talent has been hard to come by for Jerry Jones. Luke Schoonmaker and Sam Williams are on thin ice, and this upcoming season may be the last we see both players wearing the star on their helmets.
If you need more evidence, look at Trysten Hill and Kelvin Joseph. Trevon Diggs had his moments, like when he led the league in interceptions in 2021, but that was a while ago. Diggs had his own soap opera to deal with last season, with injuries and attitude issues, and was released before the season ended.
While moving on from Parsons was a tough pill to swallow, the Cowboys have done a solid job of maximizing the assets they got in return for that trade, at least on paper. They've gone the extra mile to help the defense catch up to the explosive offense, and their second-year second-round pick will be crucial to that.
It's easy to get carried away and rave about how the new-look Cowboys might finally put an end to the spell and return to Super Bowl contention; this fan base infamously does it almost every year. This time, however, feels different. There's just too much young talent and too many potential playmakers, and it might only take one of them to hit to lead this team back to the mountaintop.
It could all start with "EZ" turning the tide on some criticized second-round draft talent.
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