Balance is often seen as pure mathematical equality. Two-sided scales, the weight distribution on a bicycle and splitting a piece of cake with a sibling typically require this type of equality. Other forms of balance don’t require such stringent parameters. Culinary flavor combinations, Big Boi and Andre 3000’s Outkast excellence, and run-pass splits of an NFL offense can be more dynamic and are better when balanced based on harmony rather than equality.
For the Dallas Cowboys’ defensive front, balance will have to be found in the latter category because the make-up is anything but equal. In a matter of a few months the Dallas defensive line went from edge-focused to interior-focused in a rather significant way. Swapping out Micah Parsons for Kenny Clark and Quinnen Williams has a way of doing that to a roster.
Now the Cowboys defensive front enters the 2026 significantly unbalanced from a equality perspective. Their three highest paid defensive linemen, Osa Odighizuwa, Williams and Clark, are all interior linemen. The combined salaries from the entire edge group fail to make up the value of just one of those interior players. In fact, they rank as the second-lowest paid edge unit in the NFL this offseason.
The Cowboys defensive interior is on the opposite end of the spectrum, clocking in as the highest paid unit in the NFL. As per the balance sheet, the situation is as unbalanced as there is in this league with Dallas set to spend $69 million on their tackles, and just $6.2 million on their edges. Yet, a case can be made a harmonious balance is still within reach.
The Cowboys enter 2026 with the most expensive defensive interior and the second cheapest edge group. It’s an odd relationship of extremes… pic.twitter.com/fpy1Pu8D1r
— Reid D Hanson (@ReidDHanson) February 16, 2026
As the Cowboys move to more frequent 3-4 usage in 2026, they open up opportunities for their underfunded edge players to shine. Donovan Ezeiruaku is coming off a stellar rookie campaign and looks to take another significant step in his evolution in Year 2. James Houston is another undersized edge player who may be better suited in a 3-4. Both of these players should be able to outperform their salaries in 2026, partially because of their new roles and partially because of the strong play along the interior.
The hope is the inside and outside will form a harmonious balance for the Cowboys in 2026. This, despite the wild disparity in pay.
It’s worth noting, the Cowboys have some time to tip the scales this offseason. Free agency and the draft offer excellent avenues to improve on the edge. It’s almost impossible to achieve equal financial balance but balance of play isn’t beyond the realm of possibility. And besides, if the interior’s dominance facilitates the outside’s success, it just represents a different form of balance, one of the harmonious variety.
Whichever way the Cowboys seek to achieve it, balance is needed from their defensive front. A harmonious relationship between the interior and edge can provide them just the right balanced imbalance.
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This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Balanced imbalance: Cowboys $69M in DT spending dwarfs edge investment