Cowboys news: All options on table to fix defensive holes
Cowboys Linked to 2 Linebackers: Who is the Best Fit? – Cody Warren, Inside The Star
The middle of the Cowboys defense at linebacker very much feels like a position they should add to before the draft, if they can.
That will matter more now because Christian Parker is trying to build something new, and Dallas cannot afford to keep guessing.
This is an important conversation for a defensive staff looking who is looking for a guy who gives the defense less issues on Sundays.
So, which linebacker makes the most sense for a Christian Parker style defense?
Why Jordyn Brooks Feels Like the Cleaner Fit
When you look at Jordyn Brooks, the first thing I that stands out is how easy it is to trust the production he has had in the NFL.
Jordyn Brooks is just always around the ball. He is the type of linebacker who will give you a ton of tackles without needing everything around him to be perfect, and there will be growing pains in the defensive scheme transition.
Brooks may be the best plug-and-play answer.
Dallas has had enough uncertainty on defense, I don’t want another “maybe” at linebacker. I want a linebacker who can walk through the doors, take control of the middle, and just make life easier for the defense.
To me, that is Brooks.
Top 5 off-ball linebacker prospects for Cowboys in the 2026 NFL Draft – Mike Crum, The Cowboys Wire
If the Cowboys want to use the draft to add at linebacker instead, here are some names to know.
LB Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech
In his last two seasons at Texas Tech, Jacob Rodriguez averaged 127.5 tackles, 10.5 for a loss, three sacks, 2.5 interceptions, and five forced fumbles. Rodriguez is a production machine. He squashed concerns about his frame and athletic ability at the combine by measuring in at 6-foot-1 and 231 pounds and posting a Relative Athletic Score(RAS) of 9.23.
His issues stem from the physicality of the game and coverage ability. If he is free to flow to the ball and make plays, Rodriguez will pick a defense apart, but he can struggle to fill a gap, take on a block, and bring a ball-carrier down. He is also a question mark in going backwards into zones or getting matched up in man coverage against athletic receivers or running backs.
LB CJ Allen, Georgia
CJ Allen is better than Rodriguez as a mental processor and physical player. He will be the guy if a team is looking for a defender to set up their defensive front, see the play developing first, take on a block in the gap, and make the tackle, then that’s Allen. He won’t run sideline to sideline bringing down ball-carriers like Rodriguez and the Ohio State kids, and that is why everyone has different rankings at this position.
Allen has fewer tackles, tackles for a loss, sacks, and forced fumbles than Rodriguez. Still, his physicality in the front seven and impact on the defense around him could lead to Allen being drafted ahead of Rodriguez. His near-91 run defense grade and almost-82 overall grade show how well Allen does his job on defense.
Cowboys can fix pass rush with a certain top prospect – Dan Rogers, Blogging The Boys
The Cowboys pass rush is still an area of uncertainty that may be addressed early in the draft.
The front office knows they absolutely need to draft a cornerstone edge rusher if they want to take the defense to the next level. Enter a prospect who could be the missing piece to turn this pass rush from a headache into a full-blown migraine for NFC East quarterbacks.
EDGE, Akheem Mesidor, Miami
Height: 6’3” | Weight: 259 pounds | Speed: 4.9 forty time
Background
Mesidor’s journey to the bright lights of the ACC started in the snowy Great White North of Ottawa, Canada. Apparently, playing football in sub-zero temperatures builds a different kind of toughness because he hit the ground running when he arrived at West Virginia. He eventually took his talents down to South Beach to join the Miami Hurricanes, where he became a nightmare for opposing backfields. His career peaked during a ridiculous 2025 campaign where he racked up 12.5 sacks and earned First-Team All-ACC honors. He even holds the silver medal for the most quarterback pressures in a College Football Playoff game with 11, proving that the bigger the stage, the more he likes to break things.
Strengths
The first thing you notice on tape is an explosive first step. He does not just run past blockers. He uses a sophisticated assortment of pass-rushing moves, including a ghost move that leaves tackles reaching at thin air. His hand fighting skills are arguably his best trait. He swats away reach blocks with the precision of a ninja, never letting a lineman get a clean grip on his chest. It is rare to see a collegiate player with such a refined toolbox of technical maneuvers.
Beyond the flashy sacks, he offers incredible versatility by shifting anywhere from a wide-9 alignment to an interior 3-technique. He possesses a competitive streak that borders on the obsessive, chasing down ball carriers from the opposite side of the field like they owe him money. His run support is surprisingly stout for his frame, as he uses a low center of gravity and those violent hands to set a hard edge and funnel everything back toward his linebackers. He is the type of high-motor player who simply refuses to stay blocked.
The Fit
He fits into the Cowboys’ defensive scheme like a glove, specifically aligning with what Christian Parker likes to do with his front line. Parker prizes defenders who can win one-on-one matchups quickly and offers the flexibility to move across the line to create confusion. His ability to reduce inside on passing downs would allow the Cowboys to field a NASCAR package featuring Gary, Ezeiruaku, and Mesidor all at once. His relentless pursuit and technical discipline are exactly the traits this coaching staff wants to instill in a unit that occasionally struggled with gap integrity last season.
Next Man Up: Jaydon Blue has high upside, but needs consistency – Patrik Walker, DallasCowboys.com
The Cowboys will likely be relying on some of their young players on offense taking a step up in 2026, and Jaydon Blue at running back is a great place to start.
The Past: Blue’s past prior to 2025 involves the Texas Longhorns, where he was a home-run hitter with the ball in his hands during his time in Austin. That’s ultimately what led to him getting a call from the Cowboys when they went on the clock in the fifth-round of last year’s NFL Draft, but if Blue thought the NFL would be a cakewalk based simply upon his ability, he was wrong. His rookie season routinely saw him shelved by head coach Brian Schottenheimer to demand consistency from his young running back, never relenting on that standard, not once.
The Present: It wasn’t until the final game of the regular season that Blue earned a chance to show what he can do in a Cowboys’ uniform, and he did it in short order, and in spades. The 22-year-old mostly had his way with the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium to end the season, and he looked confident, shifty, quick and fast with the ball in his hands — tearing off chunks of yardage on multiple occasions and scoring his first-ever NFL touchdown, to boot.
The Future: His performance in Week 18 has to make the Cowboys feel good about his growth and maturity heading into Year 2, but it begins with how he approaches OTAs, minicamp and training camp/preseason. Hopefully, Blue has lived in his playbook this offseason and, if so, he has a very real chance at battling Phil Mafah for the role of RB2 behind Javonte Williams, the definitive RB1 going forward.
Latest news is another reminder of why George Pickens is in no rush to sign a long-term deal with the Cowboys – Mauricio Rodriguez, A to Z Sports
The Cowboys are looking at having to pay one of their blue-chip players more by waiting to get a deal done, yet again.
New market-high for wide receivers
The Seattle Seahawks reached a four-year contract extension with WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The new contract is worth $168.6 million, which makes Smith-Njigba the highest-paid receiver ever at $42.2 million per year.
Smith-Njigba was named Offensive Player of the Year for the 2025 season and was one of only three wide receivers to receive more All-Pro votes than Pickens.
Smith-Njigba’s contract impact on Pickens
While Pickens isn’t expected to become the highest-paid receiver in the NFL, Smith-Njigba’s extension means there are now two wide receivers making over $40 million per year—Smith-Njigba and Ja’Marr Chase.
The higher the ceiling, the higher the landing spot will be for Pickens.
Additionally, the Los Angeles Rams and Puka Nacua are expected to work out a deal at some point in the offseason.
This is to say, Pickens may want to stay in Dallas but he and his agent, David Mulugheta, know this is what leverage looks like. The more they wait, the higher the market will be for him if he ever hits the open market.
The Cowboys may control his 2026 fate through the tag, which they could re-apply in 2027. But as long as Pickens keeps balling out, patience should pay off for Pickens like it has for other players the Cowboys have dragged out negotiations with, including CeeDee Lamb and Dak Prescott.
Post a Comment