FRISCO, Texas -- When Myles Garrett was traded from the Cleveland Browns to the Los Angeles Rams last week, the move was seen as a season changer for the Rams.
Garrett set an NFL record in 2025 with 23 sacks, and now he was going to a team that made it to the NFC Championship Game. The rich were getting richer and making the Dallas Cowboys' path to a possible Super Bowl that much more difficult.
Garrett's 23 sacks last season were more than the Cowboys' 2026 projected top six edge rushers totaled in 2025. Offseason acquisition Rashan Gary had 7.5 sacks for the Green Bay Packers, but none in his final nine games. Donovan Ezeiruaku, Dallas' 2025 second-round pick, had two in his rookie season. James Houston joined the roster days before training camp last summer and had 5.5 sacks. Sam Williams and Marist Liufau had one sack apiece. And at this time a year ago, No. 23 draft pick Malachi Lawrence was not seen as a first-rounder as a senior at Central Florida.
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The Cowboys have been taking a piecemeal approach to their pass rush, despite their Super Bowl teams (XXVII, XXVIII, XXX) having top-tier individual pass rushers, such as Hall of Famer Charles Haley, Jethro Pugh and Harvey Martin. DeMarcus Ware won his Super Bowl with the Denver Broncos but built his Hall of Fame career while becoming Dallas' all-time sack leader. And then there is Micah Parsons, who recorded at least 12 sacks in each of his first four seasons before being dealt to the Packers the week before last season started.
According to sources, the Cowboys were not involved in trade discussions for Garrett, but they were well known to be involved in talks with the Las Vegas Raiders for Maxx Crosby before his trade to the Baltimore Ravens that was called off due to a failed physical.
To date, the Cowboys have not expressed an interest in bringing back last year's sack leader, Jadeveon Clowney, who had 8.5 and remains available.
"Some of the best pass-rushing teams I know we've faced don't have necessarily one guy," coach Brian Schottenheimer said. "It's easier to shut one guy down. One elite guy, you can pay a lot of attention to."
The Seattle Seahawks were led by a trio of players who had seven sacks on their way to winning the Super Bowl. The New England Patriots, whom Seattle beat, were led by Harold Landry III's 8.5 sacks.