The Dallas Cowboys appear to be making a bold move in addressing their long-standing vulnerability against the run. During voluntary OTAs this week, rookie defensive tackle Jay Toia, a seventh-round selection out of UCLA, was spotted taking first-team snaps.
For a player picked 217th overall in the 2025 NFL Draft, it's a significant vote of confidence and could hint at a deeper shift in the Cowboys' defensive strategy.
Standing at 6-foot-2 and weighing 341 pounds, Toia brings a powerful presence to the middle of the defensive line. A former rugby player, he thrives on physicality and could bring much-needed grit to a Dallas front that has struggled to control the trenches in recent seasons.
Toia follows in the footsteps of another UCLA defensive lineman, Osa Odighizuwa, who has become a reliable piece of the Cowboys' defense. While expectations for a seventh-round rookie are typically modest, Toia's early promotion suggests he may be on a similar path to relevance.
Cowboys looking for answers on the interior
The Cowboys' issues stopping the run have persisted despite drafting Mazi Smith in the first round in 2022. While Smith has begun to develop, the team needs more consistency up front. Toia's emergence could be the answer, or at least a step in the right direction.
"Healthy competition is vital to a team's success to make sure players are constantly pushing each other and looking to get better," noted one team insider. However, the timing and visibility of Toia's promotion suggest this is more than routine OTA experimentation.
It may reflect growing dissatisfaction with the current depth and an acknowledgment that the roster's biggest flaw needs immediate attention.
According to Pro Football Focus, Toia posted a 69 overall grade in his final collegiate season, his best performance to date. His ability to anchor against double-teams and maintain gap discipline is crucial in defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus' system.
If Toia continues to show reliability in camp, he could become a rotational or even starting contributor when the season begins.
The scheme under Eberflus relies heavily on interior linemen who can eat up space and allow linebackers to flow freely. Toia's presence could open up playmaking opportunities for Kenneth Murray Jr., Jack Sanborn, and Marist Liufau, who were brought in to help bolster the linebacker corps.
Beyond the physical traits, Toia's early trust from the coaching staff is a clear indicator that he's doing something right. Whether he earns regular-season snaps or pushes others to improve, the Cowboys benefit either way.
With training camp on the horizon, Toia's development will be one of the more intriguing storylines to follow in Oxnard. If this unexpected rise continues, Dallas may have struck gold late in the draft-something every NFL franchise hopes for but few actually achieve.
