We can always keep an eye on free agents, and I was about ready to leave the Cowboys’ linebacker room alone with their rookie making noise.
I have seen the highlights and training camp clips where Jaishawn Barham has been impressing everyone with his size and playmaking. I was starting to think Dallas might be fine rolling into the season with what they have.
Let the young guys sort it out, and maybe, for once, don’t go looking for a veteran just to add a veteran. Then Barham got hurt.
The Cowboys don’t seem to think the injury is anything major, and I don’t want an August groin injury to turn into a disaster for the team. I also know that groin injuries can linger and be re-injured easily.
It wouldn’t hurt to add a free agent linebacker for depth and get them up to speed with half of training camp left to go.
If Dallas decided to make a move, these are the three free agent linebackers I would call.
Bobby Okereke Is My Pick
I don’t feel a need to dance around this one, but Bobby Okereke is my pick.
He’s 30, has been a team captain for three years in New York, and has shown he can handle a full workload in the middle of a defense. Okereke wouldn’t be a reclamation project, and he isn’t a young linebacker the Cowboys have to teach how to play.
We have watched enough and gathered enough information this offseason to know Christian Parker is going to move this defense around. Dallas will show a 3-4, 4-3 spacing, and plenty of nickel. Somebody in the middle has to see what’s going on before the snap.
Bobby Okereke has been around long enough and played at a high level for players to trust him to get them into the right position. His play in the past also shows a guy who still has some football left in this tank.
In 2025 alone, he had 143 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, and a sack. I don’t care about the sack stat as long as he is making tackles.
Having insurance for a stud rookie with a groin issue is never a bad idea.
Bobby Wagner is a Short Term Fix
Bobby Wagner is 36, and in football years that is well past his prime.
But here’s the thing: I don’t think the Cowboys need 26-year-old Bobby Wagner. I need a leader in the middle who recognizes all the little things an offense does and keeps Dallas from getting gashed in the middle of the field.
I also can’t say Bobby Wagner doesn’t still have some pep in his step. He had 162 tackles, 8 tackles for a loss, and 4.5 sacks in 2025. So, this wouldn’t be a nostalgic signing, Wagner can still play.
The only question I would have is, how much do you want him playing in space? And to be completely transparent, those numbers weren’t awful last year.
I like the fit with all the young players this room has.
You’re not signing Wagner because he’s part of the long-term plans. You sign him because you think this team can win now, and you don’t want linebacker to be the reason it doesn’t.
Matt Milano is the Coverage Guy
This is the signing that would make me nervous, and luckily, I haven’t seen much reporting about him and the Cowboys.
When he’s healthy, I can see it. Matt Milano is a linebacker who can move, cover, and stay on the field when Dallas gets into those nickel packages if needed. I feel like that will be DeMarvion Overshown’s priority though.
Having both on the field in that package would work, because offenses are going to try to isolate skill players on those linebackers to get a mismatch. Having two linebackers who can cover doesn’t leave much weakness.
Milano can handle that, but his injury history scares me. If Dallas’ doctors sign off on him and the price is right, take the swing.
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