The Cowboys are among the teams making free agent moves just ahead of training camp. Veteran defensive end James Houston has a deal in place, as first reported by Jon Machota of The Athletic. 
Houston was one of three edge rushers who recently conducted a workout with the team, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. His visit obviously went well with an agreement being reached in short order. As the Micah Parsons extension situation drags on, Houston will spend camp looking to earn a roster spot.
The Houston signing is now official, per a team announcement. In a corresponding move, fellow defensive end Luiji Vilain has been released. The former UDFA spent time on Dallas’ practice squad last season, and he landed a futures deal after the campaign. Vilain has only made four regular season appearances to date in his career, and he has yet to manage a season like Houston’s 2022 campaign in terms of production.
As a rookie with the Lions, Houston recorded eight sacks. Considering that figure came about with a defensive snap share of just 32%, expectations were high moving forward for the former sixth-rounder. Instead, he made just two appearances the following year and then split his time between the Lions and Browns last season. Houston has managed only one sack since his impressive rookie campaign.
As a result, expectations will be tempered upon arrival in Dallas. The Cowboys lost DeMarcus Lawrence in free agency, but they still have Parsons in the fold (once his extension is finalized) along with the likes of Dante Fowler, Sam Williams and Marshawn Kneeland. Those three, along with second-round rookie Donovan Ezeiruaku, will enter camp with a stronger grip on a roster spot than Houston. The 26-year-old could nevertheless offer his newest team a depth option along the edge during the summer as he looks to survive roster cuts ahead of Week 1.