Can New Cowboys Coach Save Sam Williams From ‘Change of Scenery’ Move in Free Agency?

The Dallas Cowboys have long been a team with big expectations, especially when it comes to defense. The selection of Sam Williams in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft was one of the first steps in solidifying a pass rush that would mirror the greatness of the league’s best. The vision was simple but ambitious – pair the explosive Williams with the dynamic Micah Parsons to form a ferocious duo that would strike fear into opposing quarterbacks for years to come. However, that vision seems to have slowly slipped away, leaving the Cowboys with more questions than answers about Williams’ future.

When the Cowboys drafted Williams out of Ole Miss, the hype surrounding his potential was immense. With his combination of speed and strength, paired with his innate ability to get after the quarterback, it seemed like a match made in football heaven. The foundation of the Cowboys’ defense would be set with these two young guns terrorizing offensive lines across the league. But like many great plans in the NFL, things don’t always work out as anticipated.

A series of off-the-field distractions, along with an unfortunate and career-altering knee injury, have delayed Williams’ development. His emergence into the star pass rusher Dallas envisioned has been slow, and his on-field performance has only added to the growing uncertainty. In the 2025 season, Williams appeared in just 30 percent of defensive snaps, a statistic that left fans and analysts questioning his place in the Cowboys’ plans moving forward. When the season ended, he had only one sack to his name, a far cry from the dominant edge rusher the team had hoped for when they selected him. His overall production has been lackluster, with fewer than 30 tackles in each of his three fully healthy seasons.

Despite the slow development, Williams still has undeniable talent. His ceiling is extremely high, but the road to reaching it has been bumpy at best. One cannot ignore the fact that during the early stages of his career, Williams did show flashes of greatness. In 2022-23, he recorded 8.5 sacks, a remarkable number considering he didn’t start a single game. These glimpses of high-caliber production give some hope that, with the right guidance and opportunity, Williams can still be a force on the field.

But it’s clear that the Cowboys’ defensive struggles during the last few seasons have compounded the situation. Williams wasn’t the only one affected by the frequent changes in defensive coordinators. Every new coaching staff brought with it a new scheme, and as a result, Williams found himself constantly adjusting to new roles. Rather than developing a sense of consistency and stability, he was continually restarting his journey, trying to prove his worth in a system that couldn’t seem to find the right fit for him.

The recent struggles of the Cowboys’ defense were only further amplified when Micah Parsons was traded ahead of the 2025 season. This change left Williams with even more pressure to step up, but unfortunately, he was unable to fill the gap left by Parsons’ departure. The impact of these off-field shifts has only served to diminish his confidence and put a significant dent in his development. However, the question remains: can new defensive coordinator Christian Parker turn things around for Williams?

The Cowboys’ defense, as it stands, is in desperate need of transformation. Under the new leadership of Parker, the team is looking to rebuild its defense, and Williams’ future may depend on whether he can adapt to the changes that Parker brings. Williams is now faced with the challenge of showing the Cowboys that he is worth the investment moving forward. He is entering free agency for the first time in his career, and his future with the team is far from certain.

As it stands, reports indicate that Williams’ “erratic nature” has left him low on Dallas’ priority list. That’s a tough pill to swallow for someone who was once considered a key piece of the Cowboys’ defensive puzzle. In fact, according to ESPN, of the 22 players whose contracts are set to expire, Williams may be one of those who would benefit the most from a “change of scenery.” The idea of a fresh start could be just what Williams needs to reignite his career.

Despite these obstacles, the Cowboys still have a glimmer of hope when it comes to Williams. There are still those within the organization who believe that a healthy, motivated Williams could contribute to a revamped pass rush. However, given his inconsistency and limited production, it’s hard to gauge exactly what his role will be in the future. Owner Jerry Jones could decide to take a gamble on the 27-year-old, giving him a “prove-it” deal similar to the one the team offered running back Javonte Williams a year ago.

Javonte’s comeback was one for the books. After a slow start to his career, he broke out in a major way, posting a career-high 1,201 yards and securing a long-term contract in the offseason. Could Sam Williams follow a similar trajectory? Time will tell, but it’s clear that the Cowboys are still weighing their options.

From a financial perspective, Williams’ market value projection sits at just $2.3 million for a one-year deal, according to Spotrac. This is relatively affordable for the Cowboys, who could offer him a chance to prove himself one more time. If Williams can come back stronger than ever after recovering from the knee injury that kept him sidelined in 2024, he may very well earn a spot in the team’s defensive plans.

However, the clock is ticking. The Cowboys are undergoing a significant overhaul on defense, and Williams will need to show something special if he’s to avoid being discarded as another project that never quite reached its potential. The pass rush is one of the most crucial aspects of any defense, and with new faces expected to come into the fold, there may not be room for players who haven’t consistently lived up to expectations.

At the end of the day, the question remains: Can new coach Christian Parker save Sam Williams from a change of scenery move in free agency? The answer may depend on how quickly Williams can bounce back from his injury, adjust to the new defensive scheme, and prove that he’s capable of becoming the dynamic edge rusher the Cowboys thought they were drafting two years ago. With the clock ticking and his future on the line, it will be a make-or-break year for the once-promising prospect.

The Cowboys have a lot of decisions to make this offseason, and Williams’ fate will be one of the most intriguing storylines. For now, all eyes will be on him as he looks to prove his worth and avoid an uncertain future. The next few months could determine whether he stays in Dallas or is forced to seek a fresh start elsewhere.