Cowboys Could Sign ‘Perfect’ Replacement in Super Bowl Champion Defender

An excellent destination for a defensive tackle who won a Super Bowl would be the Dallas Cowboys.

Dallas lacks depth at defensive tackle while they manage the injury to starting defensive lineman Jonathan Hankins.

The Dallas Cowboys might improve their depth by adding Sebastian Joseph-Day, who was just cut by the Los Angeles Chargers, as Anthony Licciardi of Sports Illustrated proposes.

On Friday, December 22, Rapoport reported, “A surprise: The Chargers are waiving DT Sebastian Joseph-Day, who has started 14 games, source said.” “Maybe a good addition for a team going to the playoffs.”

Why Chargers Released Sebastian Joseph-Day

Joseph-Day, a 28-year-old defensive tackle, has been a starter for the Chargers since his rookie season in 2019 and was even part of the team that won a Super Bowl with them in 2021 despite missing most of the season due to a torn pectoral injury.

As Rapoport noted, Joseph-Day had started all 14 games this season.

However, his release coincides with the team’s dissolution following Justin Herbert’s season-ending injury and the firing of former coach Brandon Staley.

Over the last five seasons, Joseph-Day has recorded 224 tackles, 11 sacks, and 31 quarterback hits while starting 68 of his 69

career games.Pro Football Focus reports that in the 2023 season, the former sixth-round draft choice has recorded 25 total

quarterback pressures (15 hurries, seven hits, and three sacks), good for a defensive grade of 59.7 and a pass-rushing rating of 64.0.

Why the Cowboys Should Sign Sebastian Joseph-Day

In contrast, Hankins’ stats—49.9 defensive grade and 61.2 pass-rushing grade—are actually better, although he has only had six QB pressures overall—three sacks and three hurries.

Joseph-Day’s grades are either an improvement over the Cowboys’ current defensive tackle rotation, with Osa Odighizuwa being the outlier.

Joe Summers of FanSided argues that Joseph-Day could be the ideal substitute for Hankins, given that Hankins may miss the rest of the regular season due to an ankle ailment.

“The ideal potential depth just became available, and Cowboys defensive tackle Jonathan Hankins is battling an injury that may keep him out for the remainder of the regular season,” writes Summers. Dallas anticipates Hankins returning soon, but it makes sense to add Joseph-Day as insurance.

Joseph-Day would have only cost the Cowboys $720,000 for the rest of the season, so they won’t be claiming him off of waivers, but they still ought to sign him.

As Licciardi writes, Joseph-Day is a “low-risk option” for the Cowboys.

“But our analysis: Joseph-Day offers the Cowboys a low-risk option for a unit that could certainly use a jolt,” writes Licciardi. “Filling in for Hankins’ role, allowing him to return to his best spot and Hankins to truly get healthy, could pay dividends as Dallas approaches the NFC playoff circuit.”

Considering one of the Cowboys’ weaknesses are in the run defense department — they rank 19th in yards and 18th in yards per attempt — it would suit Dallas well to sign a former champion defensive tackle as they seek to make a Super Bowl run.

As Licciardi writes, Joseph-Day is a “low-risk option” for the Cowboys.

But according to Licciardi’s analysis, Joseph-Day presents the Cowboys with a low-risk alternative for a team that may use a boost. As Dallas moves closer to the NFC playoff circuit, “filling in for Hankins’ role and allowing him to return to his best spot and Hankins to truly get healthy” could pay off.

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It would be wise for Dallas to recruit a past champion defensive lineman as they look to win a Super Bowl, given that the Cowboys’ run defense is one of their vulnerabilities (they rank 19th in yards and 18th in yards per attempt).

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