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Frisco, Texas — What we have here is a failure of communication. In 2023, Dan Quinn was playing the role of cool hand rook involved in the linebackers room, but the Dallas Cowboys were actually in a bind at the position, mainly due to injuries.
The loss of rookie standout DeMarvion Overshawn derailed his first year before it even started, leaving Marquise Bell safe and Leighton Vandershawn as the player to fill Overshawn's planned role. With the loss of Esch, he was forced to immediately shift his focus to Quinn. His season-ending (and likely career-ending) neck injury in October made matters worse.
After all, LVE is not only a green dot, he's the most experienced linebacker on the spot and one of only two actual linebackers on the active roster, the other being It was Damone Clark. Attempts to fix Rashaan Evans' problems didn't work either, and promotions for Malik Jefferson and Buddy Johnson didn't work either.
Well, Evans was released and Jefferson didn't sign a futures contract, leaving Clark and Johnson as the only true LBs on the entire roster.
Given that Mike Zimmer's defense regularly features/highlights good linebacker play, and considering input from actual linebackers, the Cowboys are the biggest on their depth chart. It's time to consider how you can fix what could be a mess.
for your information: *Be sure to check out the entire “What’s Next?”*” As an introductory book to the series.
Damone Clarke: It's unclear whether or not LVE can and will return to football, but his decision will impact how the Cowboys approach the position as they search for a dynamic player to play alongside Clark. That shouldn't happen. The former fourth-rounder is entering the third year of his rookie contract and has shown flashes from his time at LSU before pre-draft spinal fusion surgery, but he still looks to turn those flashes into a consistent impact each week. We are working. Basics.
And as the 2023 season progresses, LVE's absence as a mentor to the Green Dots and young linebackers becomes increasingly apparent, adding proven, respected, and still exciting talent. Doing so could work in several ways.
Buddy Johnson: As previously mentioned, Johnson signed a futures contract with the Cowboys after joining the team's practice squad in 2023. He has struggled to establish himself on a roster despite only being 24 years old and is already a journeyman in the league. The former fourth-round pick out of Texas A&M is still developing and isn't the immediate answer Zimmer needs at linebacker — he has just six total tackles in six NFL games.
flex backer: Bell was asked to switch from safety to linebacker on short notice and played admirably, admirably evenly, but his lack of size ultimately became a focal point of the team's offense as the season progressed. became. It feels like Zimmer brings Bell back to safety, which could help the unit if Jaylon Kearse leaves in free agency.
Either way, Bell is a great player who proved himself last season, but will need to return in 2024 from his home position.
Note: These players will have their restrictions lifted on March 13th unless they have signed a new contract with their current team before that date.
Bobby Wagner: Let's try again. For the third time in recent history, this would give the likely future Hall of Fame linebacker a chance to join the Cowboys. The nine-time Pro Bowler and 10-time All-Pro (!!!) is scheduled to become a free agent in March unless there is some kind of agreement with the Seahawks by then, so he probably doesn't need to be introduced here. You know who he is, and so do your hamsters and goldfish.
Wagner would defend Zimmer strongly and instantly take the LB unit from the ICU to, dare I say it, feared by the opposition. He's 33 years old, but if you care about that, you won't see him play at all in 2023. Hint: He earned his most recent Pro Bowl and All-Pro eligibility in 2023.
His accolades are numerous, his Super Bowl ring shines, and his play speaks for itself. And considering he's already earned more than $102 million in his illustrious career, maybe, just maybe, he'll earn a second ring. You may intend to do well financially.
Jordyn Brooks: Since we're talking about Seahawks linebackers, put Brooks in the mix here first. A former first-round pick of Seattle in 2020, this would be a longer-term option than Wagner – my belief is the latter is a two-year deal (if needed to bring him to Dallas). may be 3 years). At 26 years old, Brooks still has an entire promising NFL career in front of him, and learning alongside one of the greatest players of all time can't hurt.
Brooks is a heat-seeking missile at linebacker. In second NFL season he scored his 109 Solo tackle (189 combined) And that let the league know he was a problem. He totaled 309 tackles and 16 pass deflections in just four seasons. He will pair well with the level of improvement Clark will bring in 2024.
labonte david: Unlike Wagner, David has long been the centerpiece of the team's defense and, not coincidentally, is entering his mid-30s while still playing at a high level. He also owns a Super Bowl ring, the three-time All-Pro selection is still going strong, and he shows no signs of slowing down, having started 32 regular-season games over the past two seasons.
In fact, he's going in the opposite direction, producing more tackles and sacks and producing the same amount of pass breakups in 2023 than he did in 2022, but starting two fewer games. Despite this. He's a leader at the highest level, and like Wagner, he has instant confidence in the Cowboys' linebacker room if they can sign him.
Frankie Louv: Luvu, who is moving back to the younger side of the list, has jumped out at me in a big way. He is coming off a three-year contract with the Panthers, which ended with two straight career-best seasons, but he is also known for forcing fumbles when he gets close to the ball. And as much as he's a one-time passer rusher, with 12.5 sacks since 2022, he's also statistically about a top-10 run-stopping linebacker.
The 27-year-old is on this list along with Brooks. Brooks is a young but established talent who can contribute right away while also serving as a bit of a mentor. And the fact that Luv was able to rise from the ranks of undrafted players in 2018 and from an under-the-radar program at Washington State University to be on this list is the kind of thing you have to love. Hunger and hardship.
Aziz Al Shail: Among this list of interesting candidates for the Cowboys, Brooks isn't the only one who took the time to study the NFL legend. Al Shair served as a replacement for none other than Fred Warner for the majority of his young career, and will sign with the Tennessee Titans with the aim of establishing himself as a full-time starter in 2023. . .
Mission accomplished, everyone. The 26-year-old recorded career tackles (163 total, 84 solo) in 17 starts, and added four pass breakups and another forced fumble to his tally. He is also known to be a big contributor on special teams when needed, increasing his overall value to any team he joins going forward.
wishful thinking: patrick queen – I have high hopes for the Ravens to be smart and beat the Queens in the franchise tag. Unless there is a new contract, there is no sensible way to counter that. That's because he will undoubtedly be the most sought-after linebacker on this year's free agency market, so the bidding war will be hell on earth. To the Ravens front office. It's always better to negotiate with yourself as far as the tag allows, but…man…imagine Queen in a Cowboys uniform. Enough to find a replacement pair of pants.
Honorable mention: Josey Jewell, Tyrell Dodson, Oren Burks, Willie Gay Jr., Devin White – In my opinion, this is the best of the remaining members, including Jewell, who serves as the green point on defense, keeping in mind that's the role vacated by LVE's injury. I'm not completely convinced that white is the answer. Because the Cowboys need linebackers who are not only good at blitzing (they already have one), but can cover from sideline to sideline, and that's simply not White's argument. It is from. gain fame. But he's still worth mentioning. My focus is on Dodson, Burks, and Gay, next-level talents who have the ability to be what Dallas and Zimmer are looking for, but not at the level of Wagner, Brooks, David, and Al Shaair. There are three people with
Overall, this is one of the best free agent linebacker depths in a long time, and considering the likely thin depth of 2024 draft candidates, the Cowboys have free agent linebackers. There is a lot of motivation to create a big topic in this position. —Then let's go catch some whales.
