The Dallas Cowboys have reportedly fired defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, but that doesn't completely take care of the problem on defense.
It's true Eberflus was a terrible fit for the Cowboys, who simply did not have the right players to fit his system.
The trade of Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers certainly didn't help and was no doubt a brutal situation for the now-former Cowboys defensive coordinator, but that also points to Eberflus' other issue: lack of adjustments.
We're never going to say Eberflus doesn't deserve blame for how awful the defense was this season, but he doesn't deserve all of it.
The person responsible for hiring Eberflus, Jerry Jones, needs to consider fit over name when he decides who will be the team's next defensive coordinator.
Another issue was the team's lack of talent in key areas.
The Cowboys trading Parsons left a gaping hole at edge rusher that the team tried to fill with Jadeveon Clowney, James Houston and Dante Fowler Jr.
Those three tallied a combined 16 sacks, just 3.5 more than Parsons had by himself in 14 games, and Fowler was particularly disappointing.
Dallas needs to do better at edge rusher in 2026 and will have a chance to revamp the group with Clowney and Fowler set to hit free agency. Even if the Cowboys retain Clowney, they still need more help.
Dallas also needs cornerbacks it can rely on.
After a few injury-plagued years from DaRon Bland and Trevon Diggs, the latter of whom is no longer with the team, it's imperative the Cowboys have corners who are both effective and available.
For the Cowboys to make all of these improvements, it's going to take money and the team isn't exactly flush with cap space. In fact, Dallas is projected to be $33 million over the cap in 2026.
The need to improve the defense is paramount, which is why it would make zero sense for the Cowboys to pay big money to another receiver in George Pickens.
We can point the finger all we want at Eberflus, who did a bad job and was obviously not the right man for the job in Dallas, but he didn't hire himself.
Eberflus is just the latest misstep in the long line of failed defensive coordinators in Dallas in recent years and Jones is the common denominator through it all.
Jerry needs to find the right fit instead of the big name, and then he needs to go out and get the personnel necessary to improve multiple areas of the defense.
More NFL News
- Kyle Pitts free agent update from ESPN is exactly what Falcons should do
- Matt Prater injury update from Bills offers better-than-expected news
- Colts veteran defender considering retirement for health reasons
- Browns rumor doesn't bode well for Cleveland's head coach search