FRISCO, Texas —Here, we have a breakdown in communication. In 2023, Dan Quinn was acting as Cool Hand Luke in the linebackers’ room, but the Dallas Cowboys were in serious trouble at linebacker, mostly as a result of injuries.
DeMarvion Overshown’s injury prematurely ended his rookie season before it even got underway, forcing Quinn to make a quick change of heart and assign safety Markquese Bell to fill the role that Overshown was supposed to play. To make matters worse, Leighton Vander Esch’s season-ending (and potentially career-ending) neck injury in October further complicated matters.
LVE was the only real linebacker on the active roster (the other being Damone Clark), so he wasn’t only the green dot; he was also the most seasoned player in the room. Attempts to elevate Malik Jefferson or Buddy Johnson, or to find a solution with Rashaan Evans, were unsuccessful.
With Evans cut loose and Jefferson not signing a contract extension, Clark and Johnson are the only two real linebackers on the roster.
*pump*
Given that Mike Zimmer’s schemes frequently emphasize or spotlight excellent linebacker performance from both actual linebackers and himself, it’s time to examine how the Cowboys can clean up what could be the largest mess on their depth chart.
Just so you know, the entire “What’s Next?” series is a great starting point for this one.
*What’s In This Picture: *
Damone Clark: LVE’s choice should not affect the Cowboys’ search for a dynamic backup player to play alongside Clark, even though it is unclear if he can or will return to football. The former fourth-round pick is in his third year of rookie contract. He has shown glimpses of his old self at LSU before undergoing predraft spinal fusion surgery, but he is still attempting to translate those moments into regular impact every week.
Additionally, as the 2023 season progressed, the lack of LVE as a mentor and green dot for the new linebacker became increasingly apparent, so adding a tried-and-true, well-respected, and still explosive player would probably be a smart move in a number of ways.
Buddy JohnsonAs previously stated, Johnson joined the Cowboys practice squad in 2023 and signed a futures contract. Despite only being 24 years old, he has already established himself as a journeyman in the league due to his inability to stay on a team. With just six combined tackles in his six NFL games, the former Texas A&M fourth-round pick is still very much a developing player and not Zimmer’s first choice at linebacker.
Flexbacker: Bell was required to switch at any time from safety to linebacker. Although he performed admirably—incredibly even—his insufficient stature eventually became a focus of attack for opponents during the season. Bell seems more and more likely to be moved back to safety by Zimmer, which might benefit that team should Jayron Kearse leave in free agency.
In any case, Bell is an excellent player who demonstrated his worth this past season, but his base position is beckoning him to make a comeback in 2024.
* Existing Resources: *
Bobby WagnerShall we give this another go? The future Hall of Fame linebacker will get an opportunity to play for the Cowboys for what will be the third time in recent memory. A 10-time (!!!) Pro Bowler and nine-time All-Pro, who doesn’t require an introduction, will be a free agency in March barring an agreement between him and the Seahawks before then. Both you and your goldfish and hamster are aware of who he is.
In Zimmer’s defense, Wagner would be electrifying, transforming the LBs unit from an ICU presence to, dare I say it, a force to be reckoned with. If you’re concerned about his age, which is 33, it indicates to me that you didn’t see him play in 2023 at all. Hint: in 2023, he received his most recent Pro Bowl and All-Pro selection.
His performance speaks for itself, and he has a ton of awards and a flashy Super Bowl ring. And given that he has already made over $102 million in his storied career, perhaps, just possibly, he might be willing to make financial concessions in exchange for the chance to win a second ring.
Jordyn Brooks: Brooks is a linebacker for the Seahawks, so feel free to include him in this discussion for me. This would be a better long-term possibility than Wagner, who was a previous first-round choice of Seattle’s in 2020; my understanding of Wagner’s contract is that it’s for two years (maybe three, if necessary to get him to Dallas). The 26-year-old Brooks has a full and bright NFL future ahead of him, and it certainly helps that he’s studied under one of the greatest to have ever played the position.
At linebacker, Brooks is a missile that seeks heat. He recorded 109 solo tackles (189 COMBINED) in his second NFL season, which alerted the league to his potential as a problem. He has only contributed 16 pass deflections and 309 combined tackles in his four seasons. He would work well with any advancement Clark might bring about in 2024.
David Lavonte: David, like Wagner, has long been a mainstay of his team’s defense and, ironically, is getting close to mid-30s while continuing to play at a high level. Along with his Super Bowl ring, the three-time All-Pro is still quite durable. Over the last two seasons, he has started 32 regular season games and shows no obvious symptoms of slowing down.
In spite of two less starts, he is actually trending in the opposite direction in 2023, recording more tackles and sacks as well as the same number of pass breakups. If the Cowboys can work out a contract with him, he is a leader of the highest kind and, similar to Wagner, instantly lends credibility to the linebackers room.
Frankie Luvu: Luvu immediately sticks out to me as he oscillates back toward the younger end of the list. In addition to having two consecutive career-best seasons as he closes up a three-year contract with the Panthers, he is also noted for forcing fumbles when he gets close to the ball. In addition, despite his strong pass-rushing ability (12.5 sacks since 2022), he is statistically almost a top-10 linebacker when it comes to stopping the run.
The 27-year-old joins this group in a similar manner as Brooks, a youthful but accomplished player who can act as a mentor in addition to being a ready contributor. The kind of desire and grind you have to love is demonstrated by Luvu’s ascent from the ranks of the undrafted in 2018—and from a less well-known program at Washington State, no less—to being on this list.
Azeez Al-Shaair: Brooks isn’t the only deserving prospect on the Cowboys’ roster who has studied under an NFL veteran. Al-Shaair worked primarily as Fred Warner’s backup for the majority of his early career before signing a contract with the Tennessee Titans in 2023 in an attempt to become a full-time starter.
Folks, the mission is done. The 26-year-old set a career high in tackles (163 total, 84 solo) in 17 starts. He also added four more pass breakups and another forced fumble to his stat line. Additionally, he has a history of making a significant contribution to special teams when called upon, which will increase his value to any team he joins in the future.
Thinking optimistically: Patrick Queen I firmly anticipate that Queen will be smacked with a franchise tag by the astute Ravens. In the absence of a new contract, there’s just no rational way to argue against it since the Ravens front office would be in the throes of a bidding war for the most sought-after linebacker in this year’s free agency class. As the tag permits, it’s always preferable to bargain against yourself, but really, just picture Queen wearing a Cowboys uniform. It’s sufficient to prompt you to search for some new trousers.
Special recognition goes to: Devin White, Tyrel Dodson, Oren Burks, Willie Gay Jr., and Joshua Jewell.I think this is the best of the rest, even with Jewell, who fills the function of the green dot on defense—a job that was left open by LVE’s injury. While I’m not totally convinced that White is the solution—the Cowboys need a linebacker who can cover sideline to sideline in addition to being a great blitzer, and they already have one of those—I do think White is still deserving of consideration. Though not as good as Wagner, Brooks, David, or Al-Shaair, Dodson, Burks, and Gay are three elite players who can be what Dallas and Zimmer need them to be.
All things considered, this is one of the strongest free agent linebacker classes in a long time. The Cowboys will have even more motivation to make a big impression at the position in free agency, so go ahead and hook a whale, as the pool of draft possibilities in 2024 is likely to be small.
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