Cowboys sign 2 defensive ends, and may also add a defensive tackle, per Stephen Jones

After filling a void at defensive end on Thursday with the additions of veterans Shaka Toney and Al-Quadin Muhammad, the Cowboys may not be done adding to the defensive line.

Dallas vice president Stephen Jones identified defensive tackle as the position the Cowboys may look to bolster in free agency or via waiver wire cuts.

Jones made it clear that is not reflection on Mazi Smith, the team’s disappointing 2023 first-round pick who is under scrutiny heading into 2024.

By all accounts, the Cowboys have liked what they’ve seen so far from Smith.

He’s doing a really good job,” defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer said. “You may not see him make flash plays, but we see him taking on double teams, getting his hands in the right place. I see him understanding where he’s supposed to be. He’s not going to be a speed rusher by any stretch. He’s going to have to be a power rusher and push the pocket. But as far as the run game, what I’ve seen so far, I’ve been impressed with him. He’s doing a really good job. Now he’s got to keep it up. But I’ve enjoyed what I’ve seen with him, along with the rest of the defensive line.”

Jones said Zimmer’s scheme is going to help Smith make an impact in 2024 after not doing much as a rookie under former defensive coordinator Dan Quinn.

Stopping the run is paramount for the Cowboys and the team doesn’t have a lot of experience up front, especially at nose tackle with only veteran journeyman Carl Davis and rookie seventh-round pick Justin Rogers behind a still unproven Smith.

The immediate focus was finding some bodies to make up for the loss of defensive end Sam Williams, who suffered a season-ending torn ACL. Williams was expected get 70% of the snaps in 2024.

Second-round pick Marshawn Kneeland will be counted on to fill in and the Cowboys also like what they have seen from Tyrus Wheat in camp.

But the team bolstered the experience at the position with the additions of Toney and Muhammad.

Toney joined the NFL as a seventh-round pick of the Washington Commanders in 2021. Toney did not play in the 2023 season after being suspended for betting on NFL games in the 2022 season. He was reinstated April 18 and cut by the Commanders days later.

He had 1.5 sacks in his two seasons with Washington.

Muhammad, a former sixth-round draft pick of New Orleans in 2017, also has a suspension in his history.

He was suspended in December while with the Indianapolis Colts for six games for violating the league’s performance-enhancing substance policy.

He only served five of those games before the end of the Colts’ regular season but will be eligible to play in the Cowboys’ 2024 season opener after being reinstated in January.

He has 12 sacks in 84 career NFL games.