Cowboys could look at 2005 draft as blueprint for fixing the 2026 defense

21 years ago the Dallas Cowboys drafted four defensive linemen as they switched to a 3-4 defense under Bill Parcells. Parcells had been hired as head coach in 2003, but didn’t change the defensive scheme until the Cowboys finished the 2004 season ranked 27th in points allowed.

In 2005, the Cowboys had two first-round picks, and with their first two picks, the Cowboys selected OLB DeMarcus Ware and DE Marcus Spears. They additionally picked up DE Chris Canty in the fourth round and added DT Jay Ratliff in the seventh.

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If the Cowboys want to fix their defensive line quickly, looking at the 2005 offseason may provide a workable blueprint for 2026. Here are the four players the Cowboys drafted and their career numbers:

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It’s completely unrealistic to expect to replicate, or even come close to, this type of production with the 2026 draft class – the 2005 draft class is probably the best draft class since the Herschel-Walker-trade-enhanced drafts in the early 1990s – but why not replicate the approach?

And the 2026 Cowboys may be in a better place already than the 2005 team was, because as they move to their new 3-4 multiple defense (or whatever it’s going to be called) the starting inside defensive linemen (Kenny Clark – Quinnen Williams – Osa Odighizuwa) are already in place.

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But the 2005 offseason was about more than just the draft for the Cowboys.

An often overlooked fact when talking about the 2005 draft class is that in addition to the four linemen they drafted, the Cowboys also signed free agent Jason Ferguson, who had played nose tackle for Parcells with the Jets. Ferguson ended up backing up La’Roi Glover at NT for most of 2005 and took over as full-time starter in 2006 before a young Jay Ratliff replaced him as the starter in 2007.

The team also traded for OLB Scott Fujita, who would end up starting eight games at strongside linebacker as the bookend to DeMarcus Ware at the weakside linebacker spot.

So, one free agent, one trade acquisition, and between two and four draft picks for the defensive line. Could you get behind a plan like that?