Cowboys should add veteran defensive tackle Linval Joseph to recent haul
The Dallas Cowboys have been extremely active over the last few days, adding much-needed depth to their defensive line. After trading for defensive tackle Jordan Phillips on Wednesday, the Cowboys signed edge rusher Carl Lawson on Thursday morning. Instantly, the Cowboys’ defense just got significantly better in terms of experience and skill on their defensive front. However, they shouldn’t stop there.
There’s another veteran out there that could be the cherry on top for the Cowboys’ recent makeover of their defensive front. Linval Joseph, who spent the 2023 season with the Buffalo Bills, makes all the sense in the world for Dallas. Joseph came to the Minnesota Vikings in 2014 and played there for six seasons. His head coach during that time was Mike Zimmer, the Cowboys new defensive coordinator. That makes Joseph very familiar with what Zimmer wants to do defensively, and he thrived with four seasons of three sacks or more, which included back-to-back Pro Bowl nods in 2016 and 2017. Zimmer is known for having huge defensive tackles, and at 6’4″ and 330 pounds, Joseph fits that criteria.
Joseph has dealt with his share of injuries over the years, which is why he’s bounced around the last several years. If he’s healthy, that’s another huge player the Cowboys can rotate inside. Phillips is extremely athletic for a man 6’6″ and 340 pounds, which allows him to do lineup all across the board. He can even play alongside Mazi Smith and give Osa Odighizuwa a breather if need be. If Joseph is added, that’s another anchor inside that can help tremendously in run situations and also give Dallas more options in their rotation.
Joseph won’t cost the Cowboys much either, which is another reason to pursue this move. Yes, the Cowboys have made their defensive front better, but Zimmer said they need “noses” as in plural. Get Joseph in the building and secure the middle of the defense for 2024 at least.