The Dallas Cowboys have had plenty of highs and lows throughout the first half of the season, but the biggest downfall has been their defense. Entering Week 10, the Cowboys allow the fourth-highest yards per play rate (6.1), the second-highest scoring defense (30.8), and there have been several players that haven’t lived up to their expectations to fuel that disappointment.
One of the biggest letdowns has been the performance of Sam Williams. A former second-round pick, Williams was expected to make a leap forward coming off a torn ACL and MCL that wiped out his 2024 season. But through the first nine games, Williams has been one of the Cowboys’ weakest links and may have already punched his ticket out of Dallas this offseason.
Once Poised for a Breakout, Sam Williams Has Become Part of the Cowboys’ Problem
Williams was on the path to be an emerging Cowboys pass rusher heading into the 2024 season, collecting 8.5 sacks in his first two years out of Ole Miss. The knee injury caused him to miss that season, but there were still big expectations placed on him, especially with the departure of Micah Parsons in a trade with the Green Bay Packers.
With the possibility of an expanded role in a contract year, Williams had the chance to establish himself in the Cowboys’ long-term plans. But that hasn’t happened as he has just one sack over the first nine games. The numbers don’t look any better from Pro Football Focus, as Williams’s overall grade has dropped from 68.2 in 2023 to 40.1 this season. He also has just 15 pressures on 166 pass-rushing snaps and has been a target of Cowboys’ fans' ire regarding the defense.
There are also some other factors that could be contributing to his down year. While he’s played every game, there could be a residual effect coming off a multiligament knee injury. Defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus also hasn’t done a great job putting his players in position to succeed, which may be handicapping the Cowboys’ pass rush.
Perhaps Williams has had enough of the drama in Dallas and could be looking for a fresh start somewhere else. But it’s also been a big drain on the Cowboys’ defense, which would be more beneficial if it were just an average unit. While he’s not the only letdown, Williams has become part of the problem and needs to turn it around if Dallas wants to make a late-season push toward a playoff spot.