FRISCO, Texas – For the past 66 NFL seasons, this Dallas Cowboys franchise has produced a proud, long legacy of middle linebackers.
The lineage goes something like this, with the most notable being:
Jerry Tubbs to Lee Roy Jordan to Bob Breunig to Eugene Lockhardt to Jack Del Rio to Ken Norton Jr. to Dat Nguyen to Bradie James to Anthony Hitchens to Sean Lee to Leighton Vander Esch to … uh, to …
Well, this is my point. They sorely need the next man in the middle.
So now is the time for the Cowboys to find that next true middle linebacker they can sink their teeth into. And if not in the upcoming NFL Draft beginning on April 23, then must continue scouring the pile of unrestricted free agent leftovers or even possibly make a trade for a veteran getting squeezed out of a starting job somewhere else.
But enough of these recent placeholders. Because ever since a severe neck injury forced Vander Esch's retirement after playing just five games in 2023, that onetime legacy position has been a rolodex of just guys. A list that includes one year of Damone Clark, then one year of Eric Kendricks and this past year's turnstile of Jack Sanborn, Kenneth Murray, Logan Wilson and the rookie Shemar James, who at 21 years of age, with but three years of college experience, finished second on the team with 85 tackles, though needs more seasoning.
Time to find that dude for seasons to come.
Now, the Cowboys must hope this draft can provide one with either of their two first-round picks, at No. 12 or No. 20. Or if they can manage to trade down at No. 20 to pick up a Day 2 draft choice and still acquire that badly needed inside linebacker – capable of running the showand even wearing the green dot helmet to relay the defensive calls in the huddle – how great would that be?
Then again, if they do, would the Cowboys even trust a rookie with such a job?
"Yes," team owner Jerry Jones said without hesitation. "Yes. A big YES."
Well, OK then.
The Cowboys have made no bones about needing to upgrade the inside linebacker position. There is confidence in DeMarvion Overshown manning one of those two inside linebacker spots in Christian Parker's 3-4 scheme, though more the weakside guy. But when Dallas goes to a 4-2-5 formation in the nickel, and understand the Cowboys played nearly 70 percent of last year's defensive snaps in nickel, this is where the roster lacks depth.
And they know it.
"We hadn't checked that box yet," Cowboys co-owner and COO Stephen Jones admittedfrom the recent NFL meetings. "But we still got a big draft ahead of us, and we'll continue to look at other opportunities that might present themselves."
If allowing me to be a Stephen whisperer, he means there are still a few veteran inside linebacker types available in free agency or to potentially acquire by trade out there. But these "opportunities" likely would need to wait until after the draft, until they see what they might accomplish at that position in two weeks.
Why, with position draft meetings now in high gear for another week, the Cowboys obviously will have identified the inside linebackers worthy of a first-round pick. That would include Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese, probably unattainable at No. 12 without an unexpected fall from the top five; Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles, only if they get lucky he lasts until No. 12; Georgia linebacker CJ Allen; and don't go to sleep on Texas linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. from right up the road in Denton, Texas. There are a few more potential inside linebacker candidates like Texas Tech's Jacob Rodriguez, Ole Miss' Harold Perkins and Missouri's Josiah Trotter, yes, the son of Eagles noted four-time Pro Bowler Jeremiah Trotter worthy of considering.
Hey, in this legacy of middle backers, only two have been first-round draft choices: Jordan in the 1963 draft and Vander Esch in 2018. They can be found.
Look, the Cowboys know if they are to improve what's been a shoddy defense against the run – this past season ranking 23rd, giving up 125.5 rushing yards per game – a stout middle' backer is a must. And inside those numbers reside nine games giving up at least 138 yards rushing with magnified highs of 216 rushing yards to Carolina, 179 to Denver and 164 to Green Bay, not surprisingly all three losses. Then there are those 24 rushing touchdowns, including Detroit's four and Philadelphia the first time around three, both losses. The 24 tied Buffalo for the most given up in the league last year and matched the second single-season most in franchise history (12-game inaugural 1960 season).
Not a one-year thing, either. In 2024, the Cowboys yielded what became a single-season franchise high 25 rushing TDs, ranking dead last in the NFL and 28th in total defense. At least this time taking 17 games to do so. Oh, and likely no coincidence, compiling losing records in both those seasons, 7-10 followed by 7-9-1, the team's first back-to-back losing efforts since 2000-02.
"There is no question in my mind we're going to rebuild that room in a very exciting way," head coach Brian Schottenheimer said. "It's going to help us be one of the best linebacker groups for the next few years to come."
And for emphasis, we are not talking here outside linebackers in a 3-4 defense that technically are edge rushers willing to play the run, plus drop into coverage as needed. We are talking inside linebackers. Guys filling the inside gaps against the run but versatile enough to not only blitz but also drop into coverage as well. This guy needs to be an every-down player.
Again, as they all will tell you, from Jerry to Stephen to Will McClay to Schotty, this search includes finding one in the upcoming draft or potentially still signing one in free agency. And in no way does any of this preclude eventually trading for one at some point. You know, the 365-day quest to upgrade personnel.
Oh, and if they need a reminder of what they are looking for, just walk down the hallway toward the locker room to gaze up at the Pro Bowl Wall. There, under linebackers, reside the names of Tubbs, five-timer Jordan, three-timer Breunig, Norton, two-timer Lee and Vander Esch.
Go get me one of them.
