Last season, the Dallas Cowboys defense was pretty impressive despite the uninspiring regular season record of 9-7. The unit may have seemed devoid of big playmakers, only scoring one touchdown and making just 10 interceptions, but they did well to stifle teams.
Ranking as the eighth-best in the NFL for net yards allowed per game at 318.1, 11th in net passing yards allowed per game at 214.1, and eighth in net rushing yards allowed per game at 104, the Cowboys defense was hard to conquer.
However, a big piece of that defensive effort was linebacker Anthony Hitchens.
Still only 25 years old, Hitchens put up strong numbers year after year and put up a career-best 84 combined tackles – a number only Sean Lee bested on the Cowboys roster – despite missing four games. The 6’0’’ 235 lbs linebacker ran out of contract over the summer, but the Cowboys didn’t really stand a chance of re-signing him.
Playing Free Agency
These days, teams pay good players great player money in the first phase of NFL free agency. With little wriggle room between them and the cap, the Cowboys were unlikely to match the other offers coming in for Hitchens.
The fifth-year linebacker eventually signed with the Kansas City Chiefs on a huge deal which some see as wildly overpriced. Hitchens gets a $14-million signing bonus as well as a fully guaranteed $21.5 million over the first two years of the deal.
Having been all but dormant in the early stages of free agency for some years now, the Dallas Cowboys were expected to try to patch the Anthony Hitchens-sized hole in their defense by signing a decent player. But, instead, the Cowboys opted to sign Joe Thomas. With eight starts over three years with the Green Bay Packers, the move wasn’t exactly inspiring.
Said to be a better version of Kyle Wilber – who was also lost in free agency – Thomas likely isn’t Hitchens’ replacement.
However, the Cowboys have long seen free agency as a way to complement their moves in the draft. The Cowboys like to pick and build their own players rather than bring in others.
That said, if they want to challenge for the NFC East and have a strong showing in the playoffs, they’ll need to bring in a big playmaker at linebacker.
As it stands, the Cowboys are a fair bit back in betting online for the NFC Conference at +900, but some shrewd free agency signings and a playmaker in the early rounds of the draft could change all of that. Replacing the productivity of Anthony Hitchens is a must if they are to build on last season.
On-Campus and Looking to the NFL Draft
Right now, Jaylon Smith seems to be the answer to the loss of Hitchens, but he’s still got some way to come before he’s at the level the Cowboys need. He continues to suffer from nerve damage in his foot following a knee injury sustained in his last game for Notre Dame, but it’s said to be getting better continually. He has a very strong work ethic and can push for a starting spot, but he’s still somewhat of an unknown.
As the Cowboys have been looking at offensive tackles, guards, and wide receivers in the second phase of free agency, they may already be planning to fill their linebacker hole in the draft.
Picking at #19 overall this year, a stroke of luck may have placed an incredibly talented linebacker in the Cowboys’ lap.
Roquan Smith, standing 6’1’’ and 236 lbs, is a formidable inside linebacker and considered to be one of the very best of the class. However, he sustained a hamstring injury during the NFL scouting combine, which could see him drop just outside of the top 15 – into Dallas’ catch zone.
The Dallas Cowboys look set to fill the void left by Anthony Hitchens with a playmaker in the early rounds of the NFL draft. If they don’t, however, it doesn’t look likely that the Cowboys will be as formidable on defense, nor will they properly challenge for the division.
I like the depth at LB in this class. I’d be ok with one of the big names, Smith and Vander Esch are both safe picks imo. I’d be happier to see a guy Shaq Griffen later, then a lottery ticket like Nick DeLuca late
You are vastly underrating Jaylon Smith, what he did last year while on the mend from his injury is just short of amazing, he, not Hitchens, was second on the team with 99 tackles. He steadily improved in what was really his rookie year on the field. The Cowboys played him extensively at middle linebacker when his natural position is outside linebacker. Injury wise he was at about 70% last year and now he says he’s at about 95%. With a year under his belt and the drop foot continuing to disappear, the sky is the limit for him. As far as adding another linebacker, Alabama’s Rashaan Evans is the best middle Linebacker in this draft class. Georgia’s Roshon Smith is an outside linebacker and his best attribute is his speed, he lacks the ferocity of Rashaan Evans who has great speed and is a ferocious hitter.
I like Jaylon but a lot of those tackles were him hitting guys already hitting the second level he wasn’t stopping guys in hole.
I’m not worried about him because I know he’ll get there Sean on the other hand is a liability as he is great. He reminds me of a LB version of Bob Sanders
I meant Roquan Smith, not Roshon Smith in my earlier post.
Need at least 2-3 LBs this offseason in addition to Thomas. . .Dallas been doing well identifying LB talent, hope this trend continues