The Dallas Cowboys added a veteran edge rusher this offseason to help patch up a pass rush that lost Micah Parsons. But Charles Snowden won’t be suiting up for Week 1.
The NFL suspended Snowden for three games after a DUI violation, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. He can still take part in preseason practices and games. But once the regular season kicks off, he’ll be watching from home until the Cowboys’ fourth game.
Snowden signed a one-year deal with Dallas this spring after spending the last two seasons with the Las Vegas Raiders. He started his career with the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent out of Virginia. Over 33 career appearances — 18 starts — he has 67 tackles, 11 quarterback hits and 4.5 sacks. Most of that production came in 2025, when he racked up three sacks, 28 tackles, four QB hits, two passes defended and an interception for the Raiders.
Pro Football Focus gave Snowden a 70.5 overall grade last season, which ranked 44th out of 115 edge rushers. That’s not elite, but it’s solid — especially for a team that just traded away its best defensive player.
The Cowboys dealt Parsons earlier this offseason, a move that left a gaping hole on the defensive line. They used a first-round pick on Malachi Lawrence to help fill it. But the numbers from 2024 tell the story: Dallas tied for fifth-fewest sacks in the league with just 35. They needed bodies. Snowden was supposed to be one of those bodies.
Now he’ll have to wait until early October to make his Dallas debut. The three-game suspension means he misses whatever the Cowboys have in store for September. He’ll still be around the team during the preseason, working back into shape and learning the defense. But come Week 1, he’s a spectator.
Snowden isn’t going to single-handedly fix the Cowboys’ pass rush issues. He’s not a star. He’s a 27-year-old defensive end coming off a decent season who provides depth and experience. Dallas clearly wanted that depth. They just won’t have it for the first three weeks.
That puts more pressure on Lawrence to hit the ground running as a rookie. And it means whoever else Dallas has on the edge better be ready to play more snaps than planned. The Cowboys knew they were taking a gamble by moving on from Parsons. Now one of their backup plans is stuck on the sideline.
Leave a Comment