It took the Dallas Cowboys longer than it should've but the front office has fixated in helping out defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, who took over a unit with a thin defensive line.
Since last week, the Cowboys have acquired DE Carl Lawson, DT Jordan Phillips, and now it's DT Linval Joseph who is set to join the team, per CBS' Josina Anderson.
That's right, the Cowboys are reuniting Zimmer with an old friend of his that arrived at Minnesota the same year the former became head coach of the Vikings. He's also a former Philadelphia Eagles lineman (2022), which makes him both a former friend and former foe to the 2024 Cowboys.
Now, he and Zimmer both get to Dallas simultaneously. But this is more than just a depth signing, as Joseph will probably end up procuring a significant role.
Listed at near 330 pounds, Joseph is set to help out the Cowboys as a nose tackle, where the team seriously lacks experience. With Mazi Smith set to start and seventh-round rookie Justin Rogers aiming for a roster spot, Zimmer now adds a much-needed veteran in the position. Joseph, who played with the Buffalo Bills in 2023, has 186 games under his belt since 2010.
Coming in, the team's intention will be for Joseph to be the backup to Mazi. But with the second-year player out of Michigan still being surrounded by plenty of question marks, the 35-year-old veteran is likely to have a high snap count by the end of the season.
Consider this: There's little depth at nose tackle, and Joseph is likely the immediate No. 2 behind Mazi. Additionally, the latter played 28% of the snaps as a rookie behind Johnathan Hankins and struggled to keep his weight up. It wouldn't be a surprise for the Cowboys to want to have a lot of rotation going on at the position once the season starts.
Why having DT depth is huge for the Cowboys
Listen, the Cowboys might not have the best defensive tackle room in the nation. In fact, it arguably remains one of the team's weakest units despite the recent additions. But this is on another level compared to what the team had one, two weeks ago.
The Cowboys have legitimate experience before their young projected starters, which means the team will be able to capitalize in what has become one of the most exciting units on the team: Linebacker.
You see, just like running backs need quality blocking from the offensive linemen, linebackers struggle to shine when their defensive tackles are getting pushed around in the trenches. So sure, having Eric Kendricks, DeMarvion Overshown, Damone Clark, and Marist Liufau all making plays was exciting but now that we know they'll work with an improved defensive line, we can start talking about this Zimmer defense's true potential.
The bar is high after Dan Quinn led the Cowboys to being the best defense in EPA/play over the last three years. But Zimmer is up for the task and he's got the talent to maintain the high standard, albeit with a very different style and hopefully, an improved group against the run.
While this signing won't make everyone forget about the Cowboys front office's shortcomings, it sure as heck is an upgrade over the team's previous DT situation.
