"When the Cowboys took Williams with the 56th-overall pick in 2022, it was with the hope that he'd develop into Micah Parsons' eventual wingman. It didn't have to be right away: DeMarcus Lawrence was 30 but still a quality starter, Dorance Armstrong had just received a two-year extension, and they'd added veteran Dante Fowler in free agency. So while a second-round pick, Williams wasn't going to be asked to do immediate heavy lifting."
"Williams' first two years were a mix of flashed potential and red flags for his future. He had four sacks as a rookie and 4.5 in 2023 as a rotation player. His ability to get after the QB was clear, but he had multiple penalties for roughing or other personal fouls that mitigated the positives. He also had maturity issues off the field, with three driving incidents from December 2022 to August 2023, the last of which included an arrest for marijuana possession and an unlawful weapon."
"2024 offered great potential for Williams to prove himself as a future asset. Armstrong and Fowler followed Dan Quinn to Washington, leaving a big gap in the rotation. It was Williams' to lose, with many hoping for a third-year leap and perhaps the rise of a future starter. But on just fourth day of training camp, Williams' season ended with a torn ACL."
"Last year, Williams' return was caught up in the mess of Matt Eberflus' defense. While he did play all 17 games and even start five, Williams only managed one sack. By the end of the year his share of the defensive snaps was dropping. But it wasn't all bad: Williams emerged as a playmaker on special teams with a bl"
Sam Williams entered the NFL with Dallas in 2022 as a second-round pick intended to develop into a complementary edge rusher. Early seasons showed pass-rush flashes, including sacks as a rotation player, but also included penalties and off-field maturity problems, including driving incidents and an arrest involving marijuana possession and an unlawful weapon. In 2024, a torn ACL ended his season early, preventing a breakout. In 2025, he played all 17 games and started five, but produced only one sack while his defensive snap share declined. He also contributed as a special-teams playmaker, setting up a 2026 opportunity to earn a bigger defensive impact.
Read at Blogging The Boys
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