The 2022 season, overall, was a successful one for the Dallas Cowboys. While their streak of losing Divisional Round games reached seven games, there were some bright spots as this was the first time Dallas has won double-digit games in back-to-back seasons since their run from 1991-1996.
If the Cowboys are going to break through in 2023, there are a few areas that need improvement. Dak Prescott cutting back on turnovers is a must. He threw two backbreaking interceptions that cost them dearly against the San Francisco 49ers.
Overall defensively, the Cowboys were solid. They have a vaunted pass rush led by Micah Parsons but very little of it came from the interior. Dallas also ranked 22nd in rushing yards allowed and could use some help in the middle of their defensive line.
That is why the Cowboys would be the perfect fit for Daron Payne in free agency. Payne is entering free agency off the best season in his career, as he put up career highs in sacks with 11.5, tackles for loss with 18 and quarterback hits with 20.
Payne would make for a dominant pairing with Osa Odighizuwa on the interior of the Cowboys’ defensive line. Odighizuwa totaled four out of the five defensive tackle sacks on the season and overall, the unit struggled. Cowboy defensive tackles had an overall grade of 48.1 on the season, which was 28th in the league. Their five sacks ranked 27th and the 64 total pressures were 29th.
Single-handily, Payne would improve those numbers. His durability and reliability are other positives that Dallas could benefit from. The Alabama product has played at least 750 snaps in each of his first five seasons in the NFL; in the past three seasons, not a single Cowboy has reached that number.
The cherry on top for Dallas would be the fact that signing Payne would directly impact one of their NFC East rivals, the Washington Commanders. That would be a huge loss for their defense, as game-planning to stop him is a lot tougher than game-planning how to use him on the field.