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Sam Williams #54 of the Dallas Cowboys

It wasn’t a big year for Dallas Cowboys edge Sam Williams, who began the year as a starter on the defensive front before he was eventually replaced by Jadeveon Clowney. But just being on the field at all was a positive, after he suffered a torn ACL and MCL the previous season, wiping out what would have been a critical third year. Williams may have lost his starting role but he did play in 17 games, a career high 434 defensive snaps (43% of the Cowboys’ plays) and secured his role as a valued member of the pass-rush rotation.

But now, though, he will be seeing his job change a bit as the Cowboys transition from a standard 4-3 base defense to new coordinator Christian Parker’s defensive front, which will see Williams back off the line and play more of an outside linebacker’s role.

And, Williams says, that’s fine by him.

“I’m going to be an outside linebacker,” Williams said, via the team website. “I can use my speed and my strength more. I can just be me. … This is what I did at Ole Miss. I’m very happy.”

Sam Williams Re-Signed on $3 Million Contract

Williams opted to return to the Cowboys this offseason on a one-year, $3 million contract despite getting interest from multiple other teams. A second-round pick in 2022, Williams has never really blossomed into the star some saw him becoming as a rookie–he was fifth in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting–but part of that is because of the knee injury, suffered during a special teams drill during training camp.

Still, Williams is seen as a solid depth piece and could be in for a good year now that he has had a full season playing on his repaired knee. Despite the offer from other teams, he said he had no doubt about returning to the Cowboys.

“It was a no-brainer,” Williams said. “I got other offers at other places, but once the Cowboys wanted me back, it was a no-brainer.”

Cowboys Overhauled the Defense

Williams also had good things to say about his dealings with Parker, who has been described by owner Jerry Jones as the Cowboys’ most important defensive acquisition. In an offseason in which the team drafted Caleb Downs and Malachi Lawrence in the first round, traded for Rashan Gary and Dee Williams and signed Jalen Thompson to one of the biggest outside free-agent deals in team history, that’s saying something.

The Cowboys defense last year rated last in the NFL in points allowed (511) and was considered the worst coverage team in the game. Dallas let most of its defensive free agents go, but kept minor depth pieces like Corey Ballentine, Josh Butler and Reddy Stewart. Williams is arguably the best returning free-agent defender on the team kept.

Williams said Parker has been very direct with him, and the Cowboys defenders in general, so far: “He ain’t coming to play around. He’s straightforward with what he wants. He didn’t ask any questions. He just told us how he wants it, and that’s the way it’s going to be.”