The Dallas Cowboys still need linebacker help, and that is why I like these two names that are flying under the radar.
USF linebacker Mac Harris and Miami (Ohio) linebacker and Miami University (Ohio) linebacker Jackson Kuwatch are not the flashy prospects everyone likes to talk about, but both feel like the sleepiest of sleepers in the 2026 NFL Draft who could help Dallas improve its depth at a position that still doesn’t feel settled.
We all know linebacker is one of the clear draft needs for the Cowboys, and ESPN locks that fact in.
The Cowboys don’t need just stars at linebacker, they need more competition depth, and players who can come in and push for a role. Harris and Kuwatch both bring enough production to at least make Dallas think about them.
The Cowboys Still Need Help
Everybody wants the big names to come to Dallas, but the Cowboys need to find players who can help the bottom half of the roster, survive camp, play teams, and give the linebacker room some life.
ESPN’s Cowboys draft overview flat-out says Dallas “must find a linebacker,” that alone should show I’m not nitpicking.
—@LRiddickESPN on Sonny Styles potentially getting drafted by the Cowboys 🏈
If Dallas gets a linebacker early, I’m good with that, but I still wouldn’t hate coming back to the position later and grabbing someone who can compete for reps.
That’s where I think players like Mac Harris and Jackson Kuwatch start to make sense.
Mac Harris Might Be the More Explosive Player
Mac Harris jumps out to me first because his production has some edge to it.
He is listed at 6 foot tall and 230 pounds, and his 2025 stats were 54 solo tackles, 6 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, and 2 interceptions. That’s production that gets my attention for a player to compete.
He’s not a tackle collector, but when I saw the six sacks and multiple takeaways from a linebacker, I think about a player who could create problems for an opposing offense.
Mac Harris is the kind of late-round name I would like to see Dallas find because he could give more than expected.
Jackson Kuwatch Looks Like a Steady Depth Option
Jackson Kuwatch is a different type of player, but he still makes sense.
Miami (Ohio) lists him at 6’4” and 235 pounds. The school shows he started all 14 games in 2025 and finished with 109 tackles, 10 tackles for a loss, and 5 sacks while earning Third-Team All-MAC honors.
Kuwatch doesn’t have the same type of takeaway production, but the size and tackle numbers jump off the page. He may be the type of player who earns his position the hard way through special teams, but he wouldn’t be the first Cowboy to do that.
Sometimes a team just needs a guy who can tackle, help on special teams, and make the coaches feel better about the bottom of the roster.
My Cowboys Take
The Cowboys’ current linebacker depth may seem uninspiring, but adding a couple of players like this could add some intrigue to the room and depth.
That’s why I think both of these names matter late in the draft or as priority undrafted free agents.
Mac Harris may feel like the more exciting swing, but his height may be an issue. Jackson Kuwatch is more steady depth who could earn his keep the hard way.
I think both make sense in different ways, and they feel like the kind of sleepers Dallas should keep an eye on if the front office wants to create good depth.
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