Dallas City News

Following the devastating injury to Sam Williams, which will keep him out for the entire 2024 season, the Dallas Cowboys held workouts on Thursday with four veteran edge rushers. The biggest name was Carl Lawson, who had previously played for current Cowboys run game coordinator Paul Guenther, but he was joined by Al-Quadin Muhammad, Shaka Toney, and Justin Hollins. After the workouts concluded, the Cowboys opted to sign both Muhammad and Toney.

The decision to sign both players gives the Cowboys added opportunities to figure out their depth chart along the edge with Williams now out of the picture. Since Williams’ injury, rookie Marshawn Kneeland has seen a larger share of the workload in training camp, and he’ll likely remain the front-runner to absorb Williams’ expected role. Still, Muhammad and Toney both have plenty to offer as well.

Muhammad’s career has had an uneven trajectory to this point. The New Jersey native committed to play for the Miami Hurricanes, where he saw limited action as a freshman. Muhammad was suspended for his entire sophomore season over an altercation with his roommate at the time. He came back the next year and held a prominent role, tallying five sacks on the year. However, he was suspended and later dismissed from the program a year later after being involved in an exotic rental car scheme that violated NCAA rules.

Following his dismissal from Miami, Muhammad entered the 2017 NFL Draft and was picked in the sixth round by the Saints. New Orleans went on to cut him one year later, when he was claimed off waivers by the Colts. In Indianapolis, Muhammad played for newly-hired defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, who had come to the Colts from Dallas.

Over the course of the season, Muhammad gradually earned more playing time in Eberflus’ defense, making two starts and playing 52.5% of the defensive snaps over the final four games of the regular season. He earned a role as a designated pass rusher the next two seasons in Indianapolis before becoming a full-time starter in 2021, finishing with 11 sacks, 22 tackles for loss, 127 total tackles, and three fumble recoveries over his four seasons with the Colts.

After the 2021 season, Muhammad followed Eberflus to Chicago, where his former defensive coordinator had been named head coach. However, Muhammad struggled in Chicago despite his familiarity with the scheme, and was released after one season. He rejoined the Colts in 2023, but was handed a suspension for violating the league’s PED policy. All in all, Muhammad didn’t suit up for a game in 2023.

During his time in Indianapolis, Muhammad displayed a combination of great burst and a physical play style, which made him a favorite for Eberflus. From 2019 to 2021, the three full seasons he spent with the team, Muhammad tallied at least 24 pressures each season and averaged just over an 8% pressure rate over that time.

He’s been a productive player as a rotational pass rusher, but troubles off the field have seemed to follow him for quite some time. Muhammad also hasn’t played in a game since January 8, 2023, and that was the conclusion to a disappointing season for him. At his best, Muhammad is exactly what the Cowboys need right now, but it’s been a while since he’s been at his best.

As for Toney, this marks a reunion with his former college teammate, Micah Parsons. The two played together at Penn State and were both in the 2021 NFL Draft, though Toney was selected in the seventh round by the Washington Commanders. While Parsons was more of a blitzing linebacker in college, Toney was a full-time edge rusher for the Nittany Lions, totaling 21.5 sacks in four years with six sacks in each of his last two years there.

Coming out of college, Toney drew praise for his elite athleticism – his Relative Athletic Score was eighth-best at his position in that class – but was considered to solely be a speed rusher who struggled on early downs. Toney was also overshadowed by Parsons and Odafe Oweh, who both went in the first round.

With the Commanders, Toney played sparingly behind a deep defensive line that included Chase Young and Montez Sweat on the edge. The majority of his snaps came on special teams, and Toney recorded just eight pressures on 112 pass rush reps in two seasons. Like Muhammad, Toney did not play in the 2023 season, as he was suspended indefinitely for gambling prior to the 2023 NFL Draft. Toney was reinstated earlier this April, but released later that week by new head coach Dan Quinn.

Whereas Muhammad has already proven that he can contribute as a situational edge rusher in the NFL, Toney is a bit more of a project. His athleticism is undeniable, and his relationship with Parsons certainly doesn’t hurt. If Toney can capture the magic of his college days, he may be able to fit in well as a rotational edge rusher on passing downs when Parsons isn’t lined up off the edge.

That may be all the Cowboys need at this point, too. Whoever takes up the role Williams was expected to have will likely not be counted on heavily in this defense, so the expectations are relatively low for Muhammad and Toney. Both players offer nice depth, though, and give new coordinator Mike Zimmer a few more options to work with as he gets into the heat of training camp.