The Dallas Cowboys' defense in 2025? Let’s just say it was a far cry from the dominant units we’ve seen in past seasons. They gave up the third-most yards per game and surrendered a league-high 59 touchdowns - a staggering number that tells you everything about where things went wrong.
A big part of that collapse came before the season even kicked off, when Dallas made the bold move to trade away Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers. Without their All-Pro edge rusher, the Cowboys lost the heartbeat of their pass rush, and it showed. The front seven struggled to generate pressure, and opposing quarterbacks had far too much time to operate.
Now, with the offseason in full swing, Dallas may be looking to correct that misstep - and there’s a name floating out there that could change the complexion of their defense in a hurry: T.J. Watt.
On Pittsburgh sports radio station 93.7 The Fan, longtime Steelers reporter Ray Fittipaldo suggested that Pittsburgh might be able to get as much as a second-round pick for Watt if they were to move him. That’s a significant development, especially considering Watt’s pedigree.
We're talking about a three-time sack leader who posted 19 sacks as recently as 2023. While his production dipped a bit over the past two seasons - 18.5 sacks combined in 2024 and 2025 - Watt is still a force off the edge and commands attention on every snap.
Watt signed a three-year extension last offseason that made him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history. So, yes, any team acquiring him would be taking on a hefty contract. But for a team like the Cowboys, who are in win-now mode and desperate to fix a broken defense, that price might be worth paying.
The fit in Dallas? It’s intriguing.
If the Cowboys were to pull the trigger on a deal, they’d be pairing Watt with Kenny Clark and Quinnen Williams up front - a trio that would instantly give them one of the most disruptive defensive lines in the league. That’s not just a pass-rushing upgrade; that’s a potential identity shift for a defense that needs one badly.
Of course, the Steelers would have to be willing to part with Watt, and that’s no small decision. But Pittsburgh is in a different phase right now - more retooling than contending - and if they believe they can get solid draft capital in return, it’s at least a conversation worth having.
For Dallas, though, this is about more than just adding talent. It’s about restoring a defensive edge that was lost the moment Parsons walked out the door.
T.J. Watt might not be a one-for-one replacement, but he’s as close as you’ll find on the open market - and he could be exactly what the Cowboys need to get back to playing championship-caliber football on both sides of the ball.