Cowboys urged to make obvious decision and put former 2nd-round OLB on trade block

Cowboys urged to make obvious decision and put former 2nd-round OLB on trade block originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Dallas Cowboys have built up their defense over the last year since the Micah Parsons trade, and it’s turned into a very promising unit.

They still need to show up during the regular season, but ahead of the 2026 season, there is some optimism. One of the reasons why is the revitalized defensive line. But in the process of upgrading the defense, there is one player likely to be the odd man out.

Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report is urging the Cowboys to put this odd-man-out, 9.5-sack outside linebacker and former second-round pick Sam Williams, on the trade block. The reason why is incredibly simple: Williams just isn’t high on the depth chart anymore.

Cowboys urged to make Sam Williams available for trade for obvious reason

“The influx of edge-defenders will limit the opportunities for 2022 second-round pick Sam Williams, who returned to Dallas on a one-year deal in free agency,” Knox writes.

Williams was a second-round pick, taken No. 56 overall, in the 2022 NFL Draft. He played in three seasons with the Cowboys after missing all of 2024 due to a torn ACL.

In those three seasons, he recorded three passes defended, three forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, and 9.5 sacks, including 4.0 and 4.5 in 2022 and 2023, respectively.

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There is some potential with Williams, and keeping him as a depth piece wouldn’t be the worst idea for the Cowboys. But the 27-year-old appears to be very buried on the depth chart.

Donovan Ezeiruaku and Rashan Gary are the starting outside linebackers in this defense, with 2026 first-round pick Malachi Lawrence and veteran James Houston slotted in as the backups to Gary and Ezeiruaku.

Marist Liufau and Williams are part of the third-string defense. But there’s a chance that Williams is moved even further down the depth chart, as the Cowboys have been linked to Maxx Crosby this offseason.

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While a trade might not actually happen, Jerry Jones isn’t afraid of a blockbuster, and it would not be a huge surprise if the Cowboys decided to further upgrade their defense.

Even if they don’t make another move, however, Williams is at best fifth on the OLB depth chart. If they can get something decent for him in a trade, it’s worth considering.

Williams could be traded for a very simple reason: he’s not high on the depth chart. That, combined with his on-field production, and the Cowboys could easily justify trading Williams before the start of the regular season.