The Dallas Cowboys have high expectations for this class to jump in and contribute right away because they used all four of their premium (top-100) picks in the 2024 NFL Draft, maybe to replace starters that left via free agency or retirement. After Dorance Armstrong and Dante Fowler Jr. followed former DC Dan Quinn to the Commanders, the Cowboys were able to bolster their pass rush depth with the addition of DE Marshawn Kneeland, their highest-drafted defensive player.

Mike Zimmer, who has been the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings since 2021, will now oversee the defense for the Cowboys. This gives plenty of leeway for speculation regarding potential modifications to Zimmer’s defense. The Cowboys addressed linebacker with former Zimmer defender Eric Kendricks, and free agency provided few other options. In addition, they intend to move Markquese Bell back to safety and pursue Notre Dame’s Marist Liufau in the third round of the draft in search of a bigger, more conventional linebacker who can stop the run. With three more draft picks going toward the offensive line, it’s obvious that this team wants to win more games at the scrimmage.

With Micah Parsons, the Cowboys already have one of the best; he can defeat defenses off-ball and outmuscle blockers in all situations, from head-over-nose to wide-9 end. They now have two after adding Marshawn Kneeland of Western Michigan with the 56th overall choice in the second round.

Kneeland recorded six sacks, 37 total pressures, 38 solo tackles, and 35 stops in the previous season for the Broncos. He accomplished this by using a variety of offensive strategies all over the line.

Kneeland’s “high effort and motor that he plays with” is what the Cowboys Vice President of Player Personnel Will McClay found most admirable about him. “Then to possess the physical talent necessary to compete at this level. He was obvious to us right away. [Brett] The more you watch Maxie, the area scout who first drew him to our attention, the more you’ll notice that he possesses NFL characteristics as well as the defensive qualities we’re searching for: a relentless work ethic and the ability to rush the passer both inside and outside. As hard as DLaw [DeMarcus Lawrence] played at Boise State, there are some parallels there, as we’ve discussed previously. That was our impression of him.

Longtime NFL evaluator Greg Cosell states in the video included in the story that he believes the player “may be the most explosive speed-to-power edge rusher in the draft, along with Jared Verse.” Verse was selected by the Cleveland Browns from Florida State with the 19th overall pick. In an interesting comparison given that both players attended smaller universities, he also contrasted Kneeland’s collegiate record with Buffalo’s Khalil Mack, who clearly demonstrated that the significant increase in competition at the NFL level didn’t pose a challenge. With seasoned players like Parsons and Lawrence prepared to assist the rookie in not taking on too much in his debut season, Kneeland will be hoping to accomplish the same.

Kneeland is a wrecking ball on tape because he never fails to finish around the ball by pushing forward with his long, thick arms. Kneeland can reset and drive blockers to cause disruptions and assist teammates in cleaning up plays, even if he is stopped on his initial rush.

Although Mike Zimmer’s defense may have some new wrinkles that Dallas hasn’t seen on the field yet, some things are timeless. Out of all the teams Zimmer could have returned to, he chose the Cowboys because they were a team that was eager to apply these “old-school” ideas after Quinn had them benched them in too many pivotal games. Zimmer began his NFL career with the Cowboys in 1994. Defense linemen can never go out of style, and Kneeland’s knack for the football, unwavering motor, ease creating plays close to the line of scrimmage, and adaptability to line up in numerous locations in a front seven are all excellent examples.

The Cowboys had a lot of talk during the offseason about how their scheme change would make them better against the run. However, with players like Kendricks, Liufau, Kneeland, and seventh-round pick Justin Rogers, in addition to Mazi Smith and DeMarvion Overshown in their second seasons, they have the resumes to at least partially support some of this talk. It will be fascinating to see how Kneeland fits into Zimmer’s defensive line rotation because he is a player who competes on the field and wants to make the most of every opportunity.