The Dallas Cowboys were on the hunt for a veteran defensive end earlier this offseason, making inquiries about Maxx Crosby. Following the trade of Micah Parsons last year, the Cowboys sought to strengthen their edge. Ultimately, Dallas secured Von Miller on a one-year contract valued at up to $7.5 million.

According to Todd Archer from ESPN, the signing of Miller led to the release of Sam Williams. Archer noted, “The Cowboys have released veteran edge rusher Sam Williams, who signed a one-year deal with $2 million guaranteed in March. Von Miller’s addition took away an edge rusher spot on the 53-man roster.”

Williams, a second-round draft pick by Dallas in 2022, contributed 85 tackles, three forced fumbles, 22 tackles for loss, and 9.5 sacks over his tenure with the Cowboys. Last year, he appeared in 17 games and started in five.

Williams expressed that the pressure to secure a spot on the 53-man roster during training camp motivated him. He shared, “I took all the reports, all the negative comments, and looked at myself in the mirror. You can’t get better unless you know what you’re doing wrong. So, everything I’ve seen, I try to fix. Even in my room, it’s written on the mirror.”

Despite facing challenges, Williams remained focused on his goals. “At the end of the day, I just took all the negatives, looked myself in the mirror, not blaming anyone else, and just worked,” he stated. “Just work, work, work. Put my head down and let my work speak for itself.”

As the regular season approaches, it is unclear if Williams will attract interest from other teams in need of a defensive end. His most effective pass-rushing season came in 2023 with 26 tackles and 4.5 sacks. However, he missed the full 2024 season due to injuries sustained in training camp.