Cowboys boast best DL in NFL over last month, face bottom-5 QB when pressured

In a total shift from the previous standard the Dallas Cowboys now boast the No. 1 graded defensive line in the NFL right now.

No one could have seen this coming. After the Dallas Cowboys unceremoniously shipped Micah Parsons off to the Northwoods of Wisconsin, doom and gloom engulfed the defense’s 2025 prospects. Not only were fans deflated from losing their best defensive player and a likely future Hall of Famer, but the entire unit collapsed to a degree almost unimaginable. Week after week the Cowboys defense found new ways to disappoint. They routinely ranked as the NFL’s worst, while playfully dabbling in historically bad territory just to keep things interesting.

So, when the Cowboys pulled the trigger on the Quinnen Williams trade at the deadline, it seemed like it was too little, too late for 2025. But Williams proved to be every bit and more than advertised. While the linebacker group and secondary showed they still have things to work out, the Dallas defensive line showed they’re better than they’ve ever been.

Since Week 9 the Cowboys defensive line ranks No. 1 in the entire NFL.

I’ll say that again. Since Week 9 the Cowboys have the NFL’s top graded defensive line per PFF. Nearly nine points ahead of the second-place Browns. While that technically dates back just before the Williams trade, Williams is a clear reason for the sustainability and legitimacy, so he gets the bulk of the credit.