Cowboy's pick Donovan Ezeiruaku thrives under increased pressures following Micah Parsons trade in second round
The Dallas Cowboys are gearing up for a new season, and changes are afoot in their defense. After trading All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers, the team has brought in a new player to bolster their defensive line: three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark.
Donovan Ezeiruaku, a second-round rookie drafted by the Cowboys last year, is eager to take on more snaps in the wake of Parsons' departure. Ezeiruaku had a productive college career at Boston College, where he recorded 16.5 sacks last season, the second-most in college football.
Before the trade, Ezeiruaku was set to work alongside Parsons and a group of other edge rushers, including Sam Williams, Dante Fowler, Marshawn Kneeland, and James Houston. The Cowboys' decision to trade Parsons was partly influenced by the depth of their edge rusher position room.
The addition of Clark is expected to improve the Cowboys' run defense, which ranked third-worst in the NFL in yards per carry allowed (4.8) and fourth-worst in rushing yards allowed per game (137.1) in 2024. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer described Clark as "violent and battle-hardened."
Jerry Jones traded Micah Parsons to Green Bay in exchange for two first-round picks and Kenny Clark. After the trade, Schottenheimer called several players, including Ezeiruaku, to discuss the situation. Micah Parsons also reached out to Ezeiruaku personally to continue their mentor-mentee relationship.
Ezeiruaku has already had a conversation with Clark and is looking forward to finding out how complete the Cowboys' new-look defense is. The Cowboys need their defensive line, including Ezeiruaku, to raise their respective games to compensate for Parsons' departure.
With the addition of Clark and the void left by Parsons, Ezeiruaku is expected to play a key role in the Cowboys' defense. The team will face a tough test in their season-opening contest against the Philadelphia Eagles at Super Bowl LIX on Sept. 4. The Cowboys' defense will need to raise their game to compete against some of the best offenses in the NFL.
Despite the changes, Ezeiruaku remains optimistic about the Cowboys' prospects for the upcoming season. With a deep and talented defensive line, the Cowboys are poised to make a strong showing in 2025.
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