Dallas Cowboys

Dallas Cowboys: 5 Most important defensive players for 2017

Updated Mar. 5, 2020 12:02 a.m. ET

Fansided, Stephen Forsha/FanSided via NFL Spin Zone

The Dallas Cowboys have worked on the defense this offseason, but just who will have to step up for the unit to be successful in 2017?

Many believe defense wins championships, so maybe that is the reason the Dallas Cowboys are 20-plus years since their last Super Bowl victory. Defense was mostly the reason they lost in the NFC Divisional Round last season to the Green Bay Packers. Subsequently, it was hardly surprising this offseason was dedicated in improving that unit.

Take a look at the numbers from the Cowboys defense last season and it's easy to see why the first three picks of the 2017 NFL Draft were all defensive players and seven of their nine draft choices were on defense.

It wasn't the entire defense that struggled, and there were injuries and suspensions that didn't help matters either. All in all, though, the defense of the Cowboys didn't play as a complete unit, resulting in them being ousted by the Packers in the playoffs due to a fourth-quarter drive down the field by Aaron Rodgers and company.

The defense was first against the run, allowing 83.5 yards per game, and were fifth in the least amount of points allowed per game at 15.1. But what hurt them was being in the middle of the pack in yards per game allowed (343.9) and passing yards allowed per game (260.4).

The Cowboys did their best this offseason to fix that issue with the free agent signing of defensive back Nolan Carroll (who was arrested this offseason for DWI), and they drafted cornerback Chidobe Awuzie in the second round. Depth in the defensive backfield was also added with their third-round pick, cornerback Jourdan Lewis, and in the sixth round with safety Xavier Woods and cornerback Marquez White.

One player on the defense who is still a complete mystery is Jaylon Smith, as he has yet to be 100-percent cleared from an injury suffered in his final collegiate game over one year ago, resulting him missing the entire 2016 season for the Cowboys. If he is cleared to play and can compete, well, this list will look different later in the offseason. Also we can't forget about first-round selection Taco Charlton and what he can bring to the defense this season as well.

This defense will really have to play better as a complete unit in 2017 if the Cowboys have dreams of not only repeating as NFC East champions, but winning in the playoffs too. That said, there are five players who will have to step up in 2017 as they are the most important players for the defense.

Dec 18, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3) is sacked by Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle David Irving (95) in the fourth quarter at AT&T Stadium. Dallas Cowboys won 26-20. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

5. David Irving, Defensive Tackle

Though he is facing a four-game suspension due to a PED violation, whenever Irving gets onto the field he will be very important to the Cowboys pass rush as they will depend on his abilities to offset the potential learning curve of the rookies drafted in late April.

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In 2016, Irving improved his overall numbers from his rookie season of 2015. Last season, the 6-7 defensive end played in 15 regular-season games, totaling 17 tackles and four sacks. He also knocked down five passes and forced four fumbles.

The 23-year old Irving had just one tackle in the Divisional Round playoff loss, but he ended the final month of the regular season on a strong note with 10 tackles and three sacks. In the final four regular-season games, the defensive tackle had two games of three tackles and two games of two tackles.

Irving is very important to the progression of the Cowboys defense in 2017. Playing at defensive tackle, he can put pressure on the opposing quarterback. And with the quarterback play in the NFC East, that will be a must for the Cowboys to have if they want to repeat as division champions.

If Irving is officially suspended for the first four regular-season games, it will hamper the progress he built at the end of last season. He came on strong late for the Cowboys and was a valuable player for the defense, but at some point in 2017 Irving, will be on the field. And when he is, his level of play must be even better than it was at the end of last season.

Oct 23, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Nolan Carroll (22) on the field against the Minnesota Vikings at Lincoln Financial Field. The Philadelphia Eagles won 21-10. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

4. Nolan Carroll, Cornerback

Another player who has had off-the-field issues after being arrested for a DWI this offseason is newly signed cornerback Nolan Carroll, who was a free agent signing from the Philadelphia Eagles. As a result, he could be facing a multi-game suspension of his own as well due to this rules infraction.

That said, as a football player and based on his skill, Carroll is a player the Cowboys will rely heavily upon in 2017 if he stays on their roster. Carroll will be entering his eighth NFL season after his first three years in the NFL coming with the Miami Dolphins and the past four seasons with the Eagles. He is coming off a year where he started in all 16 games in Philadelphia, totaling 55 tackles with 11 passes defensed, one interception and one forced fumble.

With the losses and gains made by the Cowboys in the defensive backfield since the end of the 2016 season, things will look different. Carroll must bring a veteran presence, and even more importantly, he needs to learn from what happened to him this offseason and stay on the field for his new team as they've hopefully made the right moves in rebuilding their defensive backfield.

Sep 25, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys free safety Byron Jones (31) reacts to breaking up a pass in the third quarter against the Chicago Bears at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

3. Byron Jones, Free Safety

Entering his third season, Byron Jones seems to be gaining momentum in his career and has proven to be an excellent first-round selection for the Cowboys to hang their cap on. Jones might just be the second in command on the defense behind veteran Sean Lee, and for Jones, he's done a lot of positive for the franchise in just two full NFL seasons.

He's played in every game eligible during his two NFL seasons, and in those 16 games last season, the then-second-year standout totaled 88 tackles. That is 22 more than his rookie year where he also played in every game, but in that season he made 11 starts in those 16 games. To go with the aforementioned 88 tackles, he also had 10 passes defensed, along with one interception and one forced fumble.

Jones knows his role will increase this year with all the changes on the defense. Charean Williams of The Star-Telegram quoted Jones about being in a leadership role:

"Within an instant, I'm the veteran presence now. I'm the guy who's played a lot of football in that room. For me, it's an opportunity to be a leader. But we're excited to take these young guys in. We've got a lot of good, young DBs in there, so we're excited."

To simply put it, Jones might not be the leader of the defense just yet, but he is the backbone of it at safety and will be a player the Cowboys definitely can say is one of the most important and one they will rely on in 2017.

Nov 24, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys defensive end Demarcus Lawrence (90) in action during the game against the Washington Redskins at AT&T Stadium. The Cowboys defeat the Redskins 31-26. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

2. Demarcus Lawrence, Defensive End

If he can get onto the field and then stay on it, the Cowboys have a player in Demarcus Lawrence who can become a very valuable player in this franchise if he can just stay injury-free and off the suspension list. Since 2014, Lawrence has played just one full season, and he's never made all 16 starts in a season. That said, Lawrence's step back of 2016 where he played in nine regular-season games where he totaled just 11 tackles, one sack and one forced fumble didn't live up to his previous season.

If Lawrence can get back to his 2015 numbers (16 games, 13 starts, 55 tackles, eight sacks and one forced fumble), the Cowboys could have the pass rusher they sorely lacked last season.

Drew Davidson of The Star-Telegram recently quoted Lawrence about how he wants to improve on his sub-par season from one year ago:

"A one-sack year? That's not me," Lawrence said. "I've already got that in my mind, you know, that I'm going to be the best. When my son grows up, I want him to say, 'Man, my dad was a beast.' The film don't lie. I've just got to make sure I put it on the film now."

When the Cowboys drafted Lawrence in 2014 in the second round, many believed he could be the replacement for Demarcus Ware, and he can become that type of player. He is talented and has the ability to be a productive player for the Cowboys, making his progression back to being the player he showed he can be two seasons ago one of the most important players on the entire defense.

Sep 11, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys outside linebacker Sean Lee (50) in game action against New York Giants offensive guard Justin Pugh (67) at AT&T Stadium. New York won 20-19. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

1. Sean Lee, Outside Linebacker

Sean Lee might be the most important player on the entire Cowboys team as he's done more than enough to leave a lasting legacy within the franchise. Lee is coming off his best year statistically with 145 combined tackles. In each of the past two seasons, the Cowboys defensive leader had totaled over 100 tackle. This past seasons 100-plus tackle campaign was his third of his career.

The past three seasons on the field for Lee, he has set a career high in interceptions with four (2013), sacks with 2.5 (2015) and the aforementioned tackles with 145 (2016). Lee also had four interceptions in 2011.

Besides obtaining solid numbers in various categories, Lee also brings a player to lead the Cowboys past this current learning curve they are under with a mix of a lot of younger players compared to Lee, who has been in the NFL since 2010.

Lee is even respected by the rest of his peers, as in the Top 100 Players by the NFL Network, he was ranked at 79th overall. Without Lee on the field in 2017, the Cowboys defense will suffer.

Each year he continues to add to his game. Even with his veteran presence and with the switch from inside to outside linebacker in recent seasons, Lee still is the main focal point of the Cowboys defense. Maybe this will be the year everything comes together for the entire unit at the same time.