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Major defensive changes for the Dallas Cowboys followed last summer's trade of All‑Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons. The Cowboys' original plan after drafting Boston College defensive end Donovan Ezeiruaku in the second round was to have him play opposite the All-Pro. Ezeiruaku's athletic profile and pass‑rush upside was supposed to help generate pressure off the edge while Parsons worked against his usual double and triple teams.
That may not have immediately shown itself in his rookie season, but one national outlet is betting on it in Year 2. Fox Sports’ Greg Auman recently ranked Ezeiruaku fourth on his list of players most likely to take a Year‑2 leap, highlighting opportunity and scheme changes in Dallas.
With no Parsons on the field, Ezeiruaku’s rookie season offered flashes of that potential, but no consistency. It’s normal for young edge rushers who have to adjust to the speed and physicality of the NFL, to see the weekly grind take its toll.
Ezeiruaku finished the year with just two sacks, but his impact could be seen in other ways. Ezeiruaku generated 26 quarterback pressures and, according to Pro Football Focus, posted a 28% pass‑rush win rate, the highest among all rookie edge rushers.
What makes this even more impressive is that it was later reported that Ezeiruaku played much of the season with a torn hip labrum. He underwent corrective surgery in late January and is expected to be fully cleared for training camp in Oxnard, California.
Now, with his health improving, the hype around Ezeiruaku’s second season is growing.
Ezeiruaku won’t be asked to generate pressure without help in 2026. In Gary, the Cowboys acquired someone who commands attention from opposing offenses and will create more favorable one‑on‑one matchups for Ezeiruaku. The team drafted Malachi Lawrence out of UCF, who offers a similar skillset and ceiling as the second-year pro. And with new defensive coordinator Christian Parker and pass rush specialist Brandon Jordan working with Ezeiruaku, it's easy to see why Auman is predicting a level up in Year 2.
This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Cowboys pass rush set to benefit from Donovan Ezeiruaku’s Year 2 leap
Continue reading...
That may not have immediately shown itself in his rookie season, but one national outlet is betting on it in Year 2. Fox Sports’ Greg Auman recently ranked Ezeiruaku fourth on his list of players most likely to take a Year‑2 leap, highlighting opportunity and scheme changes in Dallas.
With no Parsons on the field, Ezeiruaku’s rookie season offered flashes of that potential, but no consistency. It’s normal for young edge rushers who have to adjust to the speed and physicality of the NFL, to see the weekly grind take its toll.
Ezeiruaku finished the year with just two sacks, but his impact could be seen in other ways. Ezeiruaku generated 26 quarterback pressures and, according to Pro Football Focus, posted a 28% pass‑rush win rate, the highest among all rookie edge rushers.
What makes this even more impressive is that it was later reported that Ezeiruaku played much of the season with a torn hip labrum. He underwent corrective surgery in late January and is expected to be fully cleared for training camp in Oxnard, California.
Now, with his health improving, the hype around Ezeiruaku’s second season is growing.
Ezeiruaku won’t be asked to generate pressure without help in 2026. In Gary, the Cowboys acquired someone who commands attention from opposing offenses and will create more favorable one‑on‑one matchups for Ezeiruaku. The team drafted Malachi Lawrence out of UCF, who offers a similar skillset and ceiling as the second-year pro. And with new defensive coordinator Christian Parker and pass rush specialist Brandon Jordan working with Ezeiruaku, it's easy to see why Auman is predicting a level up in Year 2.
This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Cowboys pass rush set to benefit from Donovan Ezeiruaku’s Year 2 leap
Continue reading...
