Should 4-Time Pro Bowl Pass-Rusher Sign With Dallas?...

Should 4-Time Pro Bowl Pass-Rusher Sign With Dallas?

Before Week 16, Justin Houston, a veteran pass rusher with the Carolina Panthers, was dismissed. Does the fading great deserve a

chance to play for the Dallas Cowboys? Could he lessen Micah Parsons’s load?

The week before Christmas is here! It’s the perfect time of year to ask for leniency from our managers:

fewer tasks, a holiday bonus, or even – as in Justin Houston’s case – permission to quit.

The veteran edge rusher’s brief tenure in the NFC South came to an amicable conclusion on Tuesday when

he was cut by the Carolina Panthers. With little risk to the franchise, Houston, who turns 35 in January,

can now chase a greater opportunity, possibly even a final shot at a Super Bowl.

As has been reported, Houston is open to playing again this season, but only for a contender.

Should the Dallas Cowboys extend an offer? Our analysis …

Even though the Cowboys’ ego was hurt in their 31-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday,

they are still in the running. Dallas is probably one of the dozen clubs Houston would take into consideration.

At 10-4, they are definitely in the running for the NFC’s second-best team.

One criticism is that there really isn’t enough area for a late-season reinforcement on the edge, so fans shouldn’t expect one.

The Cowboys’ pass rush unit is effective. The pass rush is ranked third in all of football by Pro Football Focus,

behind only the San Francisco 49ers and Cleveland Browns. They are among the twelve teams

with at least 40 sacks, rank fifth in sack percentage, and have a pressure percentage that puts them in the upper half of the league.

Dallas is good in this area, even though after the first month of the season it may not be the world-beating unit it appeared to be.

Moreover, the unit is sufficiently deep to cause harm. Losing star Micah Parsons or veteran DeMarcus Lawrence would obviously be

devastating, but Houston’s pass-rush win percentage (9.5) is lower than that of rotational

pass rushers Dante Fowler Jr., Dorance Armstrong, and Sam Williams.

In fact, Houston started seven games this season, making him an official “four-time Pro Bowler.”

However, his peak was over ten years ago.

The veteran, who is fighting to stay on the field for the deplorable Panthers defense,

has only recorded a half-sack in seven games this season.

On the other hand, adding Houston might allow Parsons to play more off-ball linebacker. Dallas, you may recall,

was interested in Shaq Leonard prior to his decision to choose Philadelphia.

However, how would Dallas explain starting Houston on the field ahead of Sam Williams, Dorance Armstrong,

and Dante Fowler Jr.?

It’s okay if Houston just tags along and offers guidance and depth during a stretch run. However,

it makes more sense for all sides for any other team to be vying for the crown.