The Dallas Cowboys linebacker position is the process of some serious turnover. As recently as 2018, many considered the Cowboys trio of Jaylon Smith, Leighton Vander Esch, and Sean Lee as one of if not the best LB corps in the entire NFL. In a couple of short years the Cowboys are on the verge of moving on from all of them. Sean Lee finally retired, Leighton Vander Esch did not see his 5th year option exercised by the team, and Jaylon Smith’s contract will make it all too easy to move on from him next season. Injuries, regression, and new defensive schemes are among the many reasons for their collective fall from grace, but there is some new blood in the Dallas Cowboys linebacker room that make the future of the position look bright.
First round draft pick Micah Parsons stands out as the heir apparent for the new Dallas Cowboys linebacker group. Parsons was largely an unpopular selection among Cowboy fans in the NFL draft. That was because of some apparent off the field concerns, his inexperience playing the position, and the overall positional value attributed to linebackers. Throughout camp and the preseason thus far, Parsons is winning over many of his critics thanks to his freakish athleticism, relentless work ethic, and winning personality. The Cowboys hope that new DC Dan Quinn can really bring out the best in the talented player and also utilise his natural ability to rush the passer.
Fourth round pick Jabril Cox has also made a strong impression on Cowboy fans recently. Cox was considered a bit of a steal because of where the Cowboys drafted him but he was not anticipated to make much of an impact in year one. Cox did not ball out in training camp but he has performed well in both pre-season games. He could easily contribute to the defensive rotation thanks to his rare coverage skills which make him, oh so valuable in today’s pass first NFL.
Another offseason addition, Keanu Neal of the Atlanta Falcons, figures to be a big part of the rotation. The converted safety is also strong in coverage and he looks the part of the new prototypical, undersized, speedy linebackers that are becoming more common in the NFL. Neal may possess solid coverage skills but he can also hit like a linebacker so he should be comfortable in his new role.
Concerning Vander Esch and Smith, while neither are likely to be Dallas Cowboys next season, they still have a lot to offer in the linebacker rotation. Hopefully Dan Quinn can utilise their talents and avoid putting them in positions to fail in games. Vander Esch has had a strong training camp and will be motivated to perform well this season as his rookie contract expires and he is able to hit free agency in 2022. Jaylon Smith may have lost his starting job (although that is yet to be determined) but that doesn’t mean he won’t see a lot of the field in 2021. I expect an overall bounce back season for Jaylon Smith even if he only plays half of the snaps he did last season.
The Dallas Cowboys linebacker room is deep if nothing else but beyond those top 5 guys, there are is a steep drop off in talent. Players like Luke Gifford, Francis Bernard (injured), and Anthony Hines (injured) are all going to be hard pressed to make the team.
*Photo by Joe Glorioso https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/legalcode