6 Cowboys on Thin ice Following the NFL Draft

2. Viliami Fehoko, Jr., DL

Dallas didn't do Viliami Fehoko, Jr. any favors after taking him in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft out of San Jose State. He was a strong presence on the edge for SJSU with 47 tackles for a loss and 23 sacks in his career. Most of that damage was done over his final three years with all but one sack and three tackles for a loss occurring between 2020 and 2022.

Once selected by the Cowboys, they began to toy with the idea of moving him inside. Fehoko offers the size to play 3-tech at 6-foot-4 and 276 pounds but he's still a raw player who should be allowed to focus on one position — ideally, that would have been at defensive end.

As a rookie, he didn't get to appear in any games. The door was cracked open for him to get work in at this spot once again when Dorance Armstrong and Dante Fowler, Jr. signed with the Washington Commanders but then in Round 2, the Cowboys made a surprise pick when they took Marshawn Kneeland.

Not everyone was a fan of the Kneeland pick, but the 6-foot-3 and 267-pound EDGE has tremendous upside. He not only helps replace Armstrong but could push Sam Williams to take another step forward now since he has some real pressure on him. It also means Fehoko's best path to the roster will be as a 3-tech — which won't be easy.

Dallas has Osa Odighizuwa as the starter and Chauncey Golston behind him. They also know DeMarcus Lawrence can slide inside on third downs. That means Fehoko might be looking at another redshirt season, which is less than ideal.