The Dallas Cowboys made a move for a veteran pass rusher Sunday night. The NFL’s ninth all-time leader in sacks, Von Miller, is signing with the team after spending most of the offseason waiting for the right opportunity.
The newest Cowboy brings added veteran leadership to a pass rush unit that includes Rashan Gary, Donovan Ezeiruaki, and Malachi Lawrence. Outside of those three, adding Miller to the mix could create some uncertainty for other players looking to make the final 53-man roster.
Here
are four players who could be in danger now that Miller is in Dallas.
Marist Liufau
Former Cowboys third-round pick Marist Liufau took snaps at outside linebacker for the first time against the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday. The position change came this offseason as the team transitioned to a new defense under Christian Parker. Brian Schottenheimer has said the position change would be good for Liufau’s development.
With the addition of Miller, the Liufau experiment could be running its course before it even started. There were highlight moments for the OLB on Saturday night, but there were multiple times he looked outmatched going against blockers at the line of scrimmage.
Sam Williams
The Cowboys brought back Sam Williams on a one-year prove-it deal after a very up-and-down tenure on his rookie contract. Williams had a great start to his career with 8.5 sacks over his first two years as a rotational player at defensive end, but injury derailed his third year, and he hasn’t looked like the same player since.
The other thing that comes with Williams is penalties. There have been points throughout his career when a penalty comes up at the wrong time for a silly mistake. Add that to his mistakes off the field, and if the Cowboys are looking to change the culture in Dallas and give the room a makeover, Williams’ time in Dallas might come to an end with the addition of Miller.
James Houston
It’s James Houston! The Cowboys must have been happy to see the pass rusher have a few sacks in the game Saturday night (even if one was nullified by an accepted penalty). That should bode well for his chances to make the roster, but if Miller’s addition is considered an upgrade over Houston, Dallas might be willing to move on.
Houston actually has the most appeal from a trade standpoint. If the Cowboys want to upgrade at offensive line with their depth, they might be able to hang Houston out there as trade bait to get something in return. Another area they could look to add would be cornerback. Dallas has a history of making trades right before the cut-down deadline. Houston could net something for the Cowboys after having a 5.5-sack season.
Isaiah Land/Tyrus Wheat
The final roster spots are usually reserved for players the team doesn’t want to cut, for fear they won’t come back to the practice squad. Isaiah Land and Tyrus Wheat are tied together in more ways than one. Both players were previously with the Cowboys as undrafted free agents and are now back in their second tenure with the team. They are also likely fighting each other for what could be the 53rd spot on the team.
Wheat has been with Dallas the longest, making the team in 2023 and 2024 as a special teams player. Coming off a 1.5-sack season with the Detroit Lions, Wheat has flashed a lot more production as a pass rusher as of late. Land is more of a projection; his college stats made him an intriguing player to take a chance on, and he had a sack against the Seahawks on a critical fourth-down play.
With Miller in the fold, Dallas might not have the luxury to develop one or both of them. There’s always a chance they come back on the practice squad, but cut defensive linemen are usually the first ones to be claimed on the waiver wire since it’s a premium position.
