FRISCO — Congratulations, Christian Parker. You’re officially the new defensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys. You should be excited. Being a first-time defensive coordinator at 34 is a huge compliment and a signal that your fast-rising career has the potential to go even further.
But there’s no question about it: the road ahead in Dallas is not easy.
Parker is inheriting the worst defense in franchise history and one of the worst the league has seen in the last handful of years. Change, from a player standpoint, is inevitable — whether it’s because players are free agents or because there’s a clear need for upgrades.
Parker is now leading that change. Here are three ways he could have success doing so.
Cowboys
Who stays? Who goes?
Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer gathered his assistants for a meeting when he told them that Matt Eberflus, after one season, wouldn’t be returning as the team’s defensive coordinator. He told the assistants that he’s been in Eberflus’ shoes before. He then told the assistants he has been in theirs, as well, and if they had any questions they could ask him.
The defensive assistants on staff, including multiple that came with Eberflus from Chicago, would seemingly have an obvious question for Schottenheimer: Will they still have a job when the new defensive coordinator is chosen?
Parker can now help answer that.
In all likelihood, there won’t be many returnees from this most recent staff. That’s usually what happens when a new coordinator comes to town. Considering how poorly Dallas played last year and how aligned multiple assistants have been with Eberflus, it makes a lot of retention even less likely. For perspective: half of Dallas’ defensive assistants were with Eberflus in Chicago before coming to the Cowboys.
One interesting assistant is Cowboys defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton. There’s been a familiar question posed within the Cowboys organization, stemming from players and coaches and front office members alike. People have wondered how impactful Quinnen Williams, Kenny Clark and Osa Odighizuwa could be if they had a full offseason to work together. Keeping Whitecotton could help in that continuity.
Whitecotton, serving as the defensive coordinator for the East Team at the Shrine Bowl in Frisco, has interest elsewhere, however. The Tennessee Titians reportedly requested to interview Whitecotton for their open defensive coordinator job. Whitecotton worked with new Titans head coach Robert Saleh when they were with the New York Jets.
One of the essential parts of a coordinator interview is a plan for a staff. Parker surely presented the Cowboys that plan. Who will it include?
Answering that is step one.
Raiding the enemy?
Parker is the Cowboys’ fourth defensive coordinator in four years. Those four coordinators have also had four different schemes. It’s not easy to inject a new scheme to an entire defense of guys who are new to it. That’s why Mike Zimmer brought in Eric Kendricks to play linebacker. That’s why Eberflus brought in Jack Sanborn from Chicago.
Could it be a reason that Parker brings in a familiar face, as well? Or maybe two?
The Cowboys can restructure contracts and create a lot of cap space this offseason. It would be enough to retain wide receiver George Pickens and running back Javonte Williams, both of whom are priorities for Dallas. It would also be enough for a few free agent additions on defense.
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How about some free agents from Philadelphia? Linebacker Nakobe Dean is expected to be pricier than what Dallas would normally pay for a free agent. His market value, according to Spotrac, is an average of $15.5 million per year. The value could be worth it, however. Eagles safety Reed Blankenship, valued at $7.2 million per year according to Spotrac, would also make sense in Dallas.
A potentially cheaper option could be Denver linebacker Alex Singleton. The Cowboys saw firsthand how impactful he can be. He had 11 tackles and a forced fumble against the Cowboys this year. His market value, according to Spotrac, is $4.7 million per year. He and Parker worked together in Denver before Parker went to Philadelphia.
The Cowboys need a lot of personnel additions on defense. Getting people who are familiar with Parker would make sense.
Corner(stone) needed
Parker was in Denver when the Broncos drafted Pat Surtain II, an eventual Defensive Player of the Year Award winner after Parker left for Philadelphia. The Eagles, in Parker’s first season in Philadelphia, used their first two picks to select corners. Both Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean played impactful roles on the Eagles’ Super Bowl team last year.
DeJean said this week that Parker also played a role in his development, saying he wouldn’t be the player he is without Parker’s guidance.
The Cowboys already had multiple needs in the secondary. With Parker on board, it’s even more clear they should fill that with at least one of their first round picks. Parker’s secondary could use a young and talented cornerstone. Dallas will have that chance in April.
Here are three early corner prospects that could make sense for the Cowboys at either pick No. 12 or No. 20:
- LSU CB Mansoor Delane
- Clemson CB Avieon Terrell
- Tennessee CB Jermod McCoy
Pairing one of these guys and developing last year’s third-round pick, Shavon Revel, could give the Cowboys some optimism at the position heading into Parker’s first season.
There’s a lot of work to be done for Parker. Figuring out where he stands on these three things should be chief among them.
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