5 questions we hope Christian Parker answers during his press conference

The Dallas Cowboys have set a date. After 26 days of radio silence, new defensive coordinator Christian Parker will be set to speak to the media for the first time today at 4P.M. Eastern Time. A delay this long is unusual, but the Cowboys took time to round out their defensive staff, with their latest hire, Demeitre Brim, formerly of UCF, joining as an assistant defensive line coach a few days ago.

Over the last month, excitement around Parker taking over the coordinator position has grown. Hearing him speak for the first time should help paint the picture of where the Cowboys might be going on defense this season and what Parker will bring to Dallas. Here are five questions we hope Parker will answer during his press conference.

Question 1: What are his plans at defensive tackle?

Before 2025, the Cowboys had never taken the time to truly invest in the defensive tackle position. Spending a first-round pick on Mazi Smith was a lot in theory, but the team completely missed the mark in their evaluation. But since free agency last year, Dallas signed Osa Odighizuwa to a significant contract extension, traded Micah Parsons for Kenny Clark and some picks, and used part of the capital from the Parsons’ trade to acquire Quinnen Williams. Talk about an overcorrection to the highest degree.

Jerry Jones has not been shy about his feelings for where Dallas’ defense can be, building around their three defensive tackles in the middle. Hearing Parker’s plan for how he’d like to utilize all three will be interesting, considering Dallas’ investment in the position. He recently worked with Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter in Philadelphia. Does he believe these three players can work together?

Does he talk about Clark in the present tense and have a plan for him? The Cowboys could save significant cap space by moving on from Clark, but all quotes from the front office up until now seem to indicate he will return.

Question 2: How does he feel about Shavon Revel and DaRon Bland?

One reason fans have been excited about Parker’s arrival in Dallas is his track record of developing cornerbacks at the pro level. With the Denver Broncos, it was Pat Surtain II. Recently, with the Eagles, Parker played a pivotal role in drafting and developing Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean.

The Cowboys have a big problem at cornerback. DaRon Bland is coming off another foot surgery, and former third-round pick Shavon Revel had some growing pains when he finally took the field as a rookie last year. What is Parker’s vision for both players? The All-Pro version of Bland is still in him, as well as the talent that made Revel a potential first-round player when he was healthy.

Does he see qualities in Revel that remind him of players he’s coached in the past? Does Parker feel Bland is better utilized as a slot-specific cornerback, or does he see him growing as an outside corner? The Cowboys recently cut one of their big investments at the position in Trevon Diggs. If Parker views the position as a complete overhaul, Dallas has shown it isn’t afraid to move on if necessary.

Question 3: Are the two first-round picks his to use on defense?

During an appearance on Shan & RJ on 105.3 The Fan, James Palmer of The Athletic discussed the hire of Parker by Dallas. Palmer noted he is “a great evaluator of talent,” specifically talking about the drafting of Mitchell and DeJean with the Eagles. As of now, the Cowboys are picking twice in the first round at 12th overall and 20th overall.

While Dallas likes to keep all their options open and pick the best player available on draft night, it’s no secret their glaring holes are on the defensive side of the ball. Drafting two first-round players could go a long way in solving their issues. If the goal is to draft defense, what is Parker looking for in his players? Is he looking for big-school players only? Is it all about football I.Q? Does the production have to be there in college, or can he evaluate traits alone to determine what the player can become?

Even though Parker just arrived and it’s his first time serving as a coordinator in the NFL, we’ve seen Dallas hand the keys to a new coordinator on draft weekend before, with Dan Quinn. In his first draft with the Cowboys, Dallas selected eight defensive players from its 11 picks in 2021.

Question 4: Will he finally convince Dallas to invest in the safety position?

Just like at defensive tackle, safety has been an undervalued position in Dallas for a long time. The Cowboys did give Donovan Wilson a decent three-year contract a few years ago, and the same goes for Malik Hooker, who signed an extension in 2024. Outside of that, there has been a revolving door of players, never bringing stability to the position.

In Denver with the Broncos, Parker turned Justin Simmons into an All-Pro player. With the Eagles, Reed Blankenship has had back-to-back strong seasons as a defensive enforcer. Does Parker view safety as a vital piece to his defensive philosophy? Will he convince the front office to turn the page on their current structure at safety and go after someone in Blankenship, who’s a free agent? Caleb Downs is someone who’s considered the best player in the draft. Does Parker feel the same way about him?

Wilson and Juanyeh Thomas are two free agents, leaving Hooker and Markquese Bell as the only veterans to return at the position. Outside of Blankenship, there are a few other free agents Dallas could go after, but the talent might be more centered around the draft. Whatever way Dallas adds to the position will tell a lot about Parker’s influence.

Question 5: What scheme would Parker like to run?

The Cowboys have typically been a 4-3 defense during the run of Dan Quinn and Matt Eberflus. In today’s NFL, there’s more of a blending of concepts and teams unwilling to pigeonhole themselves into running one specific scheme. Parker has worked under Vic Fangio for most of his career, so will Parker be bringing over more of a 3-4 base defense with 4-3 concepts blended in, something Fangio likes to run?

If that’s the case, it could change how we view not only the current players on the roster and their potential. Instead of playing with his hand in the dirt, Donovan Ezeiruaku should move to outside linebacker and could accelerate his development as a pass rusher, and not just be a solid run defender. Where does that put DeMarvion Overshown and Marist Liufau? Two linebackers who have shown the ability to rush from multiple spots. It’s not the most pressing question given defensive fluidity, but it will certainly help when evaluating players in the draft and zeroing in on who will be the best fit for the Cowboys.