7 free agents the Cowboys can sign to replace Sam Williams

With Sam Williams being carted off the field on Sunday, the Dallas Cowboys are suddenly thin at defensive end.

Randy Gurzi | Jul 29, 2024

Oct 1, 2023; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers linebacker Justin Houston (50) takes the field during the first half against the Minnesota Vikings at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports / Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

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The Dallas Cowboys saw a key defender go down on Sunday as Sam Williams injured his knee during drills. It was confirmed that Williams suffered a torn ACL and MCL and will undergo surgery, ending the year for the promising pass-rusher.

Dallas will be thin at the position with Marshawn Kneeland and Viliami Fehoko as the top rotational players. They could decide to let them develop as they play but with high hopes in 2024, the safe bet is to add veteran talent.

If Dallas wants to go this route, here are seven players they could target.

Markus Golden

Nov 12, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Markus Golden (44) against the Green Bay Packers at Acrisure Stadium. / Philip G. Pavely-USA TODAY Sports

Markus Golden is a 33-year-old veteran who spent time with three different NFL teams. The majority of his career has taken place in Arizona, having two stints with the Cardinals. In 127 career games, he has 51 sacks and his double-digits three times.

He had 20 tackles and four sacks for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2023, proving he can still get it done when called upon. He's always lined up as a 3-4 outside linebacker but Mike Zimmer knows how to put players in a position to succeed and could utilize Golden on third-downs.

Shaq Lawson

Oct 15, 2023; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills defensive end Shaq Lawson (90) before a game New York Giants at Highmark Stadium. / Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports

If the Cowboys wanted someone with a little more size, Shaq Lawson could be their guy.

Lawson stands 6-foot-3 and 265 pounds and has been a decent run-stuffer for the majority of his career. He never lived up to his first-round status but has still been good enough to play in the league for eight years now. That includes two stints with the Buffalo Bills. In all, he has 207 tackles and 26 sacks while adding seven forced fumbles.

Tyus Bowser

Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Unio / USA

Injuries derailed a promising career for Tyus Bowser who had seven sacks in 2021 with the Baltimore Ravens. After that, he dealt with an Achilles injury costing him half of the 2022 season. He missed all of 2023 with a knee injury and was waived this offseason.

Dallas would be rolling the dice with this move but Bowser is still just 29 years old and could be a steal if healthy.

Carl Lawson

Defensive lineman Carl Lawson loosens up during the opening day of the 2022 New York Jets Training Camp in Florham Park, NJ on July 27, 2022. / Chris Pedota, NorthJersey.com / USA

Another player who has dealt with several injuries throughout his career is Carl Lawson. In four years with the Cincinnati Bengals, he missed 14 games. When he was on the field, he was productive with 20 sacks in 51 games.

He signed with the New York Jets in 2021 and missed his first season with them after suffering a ruptured Achilles. He returned in 2022 and had 33 tackles and seven sacks that year. Injuries again slowed him in 2023 as he missed the majority of the year. Teams have stayed away but there's a lot of upside here — although signing him comes with just as much risk.

Yannick Ngakoue

Oct 5, 2023; Landover, Maryland, USA; Chicago Bears defensive end Yannick Ngakoue (91) reacts after the game against the Washington Commanders at FedExField. / Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

One of the more underrated pass-rushers in the NFL, Yannick Ngakoue had at least eight sacks in each of his first seven seasons in the NFL. He's basically the defensive version of Brandin Cooks as he accomplished this while playing for five different teams.

His sixth team was the Chicago Bears in 2023 and he had 22 tackles and four sacks in 13 games before ending the season on the IR. He still had more than 30 pressures, however, and if healthy could provide a serviceable option off the bench.

Charles Harris

Detroit Lions defensive end Charles Harris is introduced before the Green Bay Packers game at Ford Field in Detroit on Thursday, Nov. 23, 2023. / Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK

Charles Harris was the 22nd overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. The Miami Dolphins made the same mistake the Cowboys did as they passed on T.J. Watt and regretted the move.

Harris spent three years in Miami and had just 3.5 sacks. He broke out in 2021 with the Detroit Lions, posting 65 tackles and 7.5 sacks. He's been quiet since then but would offer some speed and experience on the edge.

Justin Houston

Oct 29, 2023; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers linebacker Justin Houston (50) during warm up at Bank of America Stadium. / Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Justin Houston was a stud for years with the Kansas City Chiefs and had a resurgence in 2022 with the Baltimore Ravens. At 33 years of age, he registered 9.5 sacks off the bench.

He saw a decline in 2023, recording just a half-sack with the Carolina Panthers. Perhaps his time has passed but the Cowboys could bring him in to see if there's anything left in the tank. If nothing else, he would give them one more veteran leader for a defense with several young prospects.