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Dallas Cowboys edge rusher Sam Williams.
The Dallas Cowboys might still have some big moves left in free agency or trades this offseason — it doesn’t mean they should ignore solidifying roster moves that could be just as critical to wins and losses.
To that end, the Cowboys are bringing back a once-promising pass rusher in 6-foot-4, 261-pound 2022 2nd round pick Sam Williams on a 1-year, $3 million contract.
For a player who could provide important depth at edge rusher — or even be a starter — it could end up being an incredible steal.
“Cowboys bringing back Sam Williams on 1-year deal worth $3 million max,” ESPN’s Todd Archer wrote on X on Monday. “Had one sack, credited with 25 pressures last year. Low cost, low risk move that doesn’t impact draft possibilities.”
Sam Williams Received High Praise in 2025
Williams was singled out by Pro Football Focus as the NFL’s “Most Improved’ edge rusher in the 2nd half of the 2025 season, and his performance probably led to him exceeding his market projection of a 1-year, $2.3 million contract from Spotrac.
“The play of edge defender Sam Williams over the course of the season was one of few bright spots for the Cowboys,” PFF’s Thomas Valentine wrote. “Williams was ineffective early on with a 39.9 PFF grade — 117th out of 118 edge defenders … From Week 10 onward, Williams earned an 80.6 PFF grade, the 11th-best among edge defenders. Williams recorded just nine pressures in eight games, but also accrued 10 stops and forced a fumble. His 74.7 PFF run-defense grade was also 13th at the position, and no one had a more improved grade in the second half of the season than Williams.”
Williams played in all 17 games in 2025, including his first 5 career starts. The Cowboys finished 30th in the NFL in team defense as they went 7-9-1 overall and missed the playoffs for the 2nd consecutive season.
Career Derailed by Catastrophic Knee Injury
Williams had 8.5 sacks through his first 2 seasons before he suffered a season-ending ACL tear and partial MCL tear during training camp in 2024 and missed the entire season.
The Athletic’s Jon Machota predicted Williams as a breakout player for the Cowboys in 2025 — he might have just been one year (or half year) off.
“Williams holds the top spot here because his size and athletic ability are ideal for being an elite edge rusher,” Machota wrote. “The 2022 second-round pick just hasn’t been able to put it all together. His breakout season was supposed to be last year, but a season-ending knee injury in training camp put everything on hold.”
Williams Set SEC Sacks Record at Ole Miss
Williams’ career almost went off the rails several different times before he was selected by the Cowboys in the second round (No. 56 overall) of the 2022 NFL draft.
In high school, he was expelled for having a knife on school grounds. After transferring from Northeast Mississippi Community College to Ole Miss, he was suspended in July 2020 after an arrest for felony sexual battery but reinstated after the charges were dropped.
Williams put together a season for the ages in 2021 with 57 tackles, 16 TFL, 4 forced fumbles and one fumble returned for a touchdown — he also set the school single season record with 12.5 sacks.
He followed that with a stunning performance at the NFL scouting combine, where he checked in at 6-foot-4 and 261 pounds, ran the 40-yard dash in 4.46 seconds, and registered a 36-inch vertical jump.
Tony Adame covers the NFL for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Commanders, Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens, Philadelphia Eagles and Denver Broncos. A veteran sports writer and editor since 2004, his work has been featured at Stadium Talk, Yardbarker, NW Florida Daily News and Pensacola News Journal. More about Tony Adame
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