The Dallas Cowboys agreed to a one-year deal with Kony Ealy to play defensive end, but the former New York Jet actually helps all along the defensive line
At first glance, the agreement between defensive end Kony Ealy and the Dallas Cowboys will be a benefit to their edge rushing — which was a bit of an issue outside of DeMarcus Lawrence in 2017. The team didn’t get much out of 2017 first-round pick Taco Charlton or Benson Mayowa — who led the team with six sacks in 2016.
Mayowa has since been released and the team hopes a full season in the league will make Charlton a more effective weapon in 2018. Adding Ealy not only protects against a lack of progression from Charlton, but it also fills in for the departed Mayowa.
That’s not the end of how this signing helps. In 2017, the Cowboys had to move players around to make their starting lineup and in-game rotation work.
More from NFL Spin Zone
- Dallas Cowboys made the trade everyone else should have made
- Pittsburgh Steelers rookie sleeper everyone should be talking about
- Anthony Richardson putting jaw-dropping talent on display immediately
- Denver Broncos’ stud wide receiver might be out for a while
- Washington Commanders: Three takeaways from win over Ravens
Tyrone Crawford for instance moved from the three-technique defensive tackle to the right end for the majority of the year. While he’s talented enough to play anywhere, Crawford is more impactful when playing inside.
Adding Ealy allows the team to get Crawford into that position more often as they can go with either Ealy or Charlton on the right end opposite Lawrence.
They also have hopes that Charles Tapper can get himself into the rotation this season. All that is without even mentioning the potential return of Randy Gregory, who was suspended for all of 2017.
Of course Dallas is still strong at the three-technique. Crawford not only can excel at the position, but so too does David Irving. Maliek Collins was another player that was highly effective there as a rookie in 2016.
In order to get their best players on the field, Crawford could very well still see plenty of time as an edge defender in Big D. However, adding Ealy allows them to bring in a 26-year old who was on the rise while playing with Carolina before winding up playing out of position in the Jets 3-4 defense last year.
Moving back into his natural position should help him look more like the player who had five sacks in 2015 and 2016 as a rotational pass rusher. Should he return to that form Ealy could possibly start, but ideally would be a great reserve behind Lawrence and Taco.
Next: 2018 NFL Mock Draft: Full 7-round projection
They could also feature a third-down unit where Crawford and Irving line up next to one another as interior rushers with proven guys on the edges as well. That’s the kind of versatility and depth they’ve been looking for along the line and the team did well with this singing.