Markquese Bell was signed by the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2022 and played in just 22 defensive snaps in his rookie season.
In 2023, he was moved to linebacker and given a much larger workload, and he had a decent season for the situation he was thrown into.
Bell racked up 94 total tackles, with four passes defended and two forced fumbles.
Pro Football Focus gave him a 76.8 overall grade, which ranked him 18th out of 74 qualified players. His 83.5 coverage grade, a function of his safety background, was the fifth-highest mark among linebackers.
Why The Change Back?
Dan Quinn is no longer calling the plays, and Mike Zimmer wants players to play the position they should be playing!
Zimmer, the former head coach of the Minnesota Vikings, likes his linebackers to be on the bigger side, and at 6-3 and 205 pounds, Bell is a bit undersized to fit that criteria.
So move him back to the secondary, where he played in college. Beef it up there, as they will need it.
Markquese Bell has, far more often than not, been great in run defense in his 1st year as an NFL linebacker.
Evidence from Week 18:
The #Cowboys allowed 3.7 more rushing yards per play when he was getting a breather on the sideline.
Even with more context, this is evidential.
— Patrik [No C] Walker (@VoiceOfTheStar) January 8, 2024
Eric Kendricks signed with Dallas. Outside of him with the LVE retirement due to injury, they still need help.
With the lackluster depth at linebacker, the Cowboys could target the position in the draft. They've already scheduled a meeting with Michigan's Junior Colson and have also been connected to other top linebacker prospects.
I hope they don't draft one inside the first two picks. I would much rather go with the offensive line and then either the best available wide receiver or defensive line.
I would avoid linebacker or running back until after the second round, so I am writing about it.
Bell will be just fine moving back. & worst comes to worst, if they struggle at the LB spot, Zimmer could constantly flex him in there.
I'm not asking him to play a huge role there, but if someone gets injured or has to miss a game, at least we know Bell can step in at a moment's notice and at least not look lost entirely.
Regardless of what they do in the draft, linebacker will be one of the weakest parts of the team this season.
Royce Freeman will wear No. 27 for the #Cowboys. https://t.co/hJEOb5n9bK
— Patrik [No C] Walker (@VoiceOfTheStar) April 17, 2024
They don't have the depth or the talent on the roster right now to not be worried about it.
Other Moves
Well, the Cowboys signed Royce Freeman to their backfield. It was a huge laugh-out-loud moment Tuesday night.
In 2023, Freeman had 77 carries with the Rams. Those carries produced 319 yards and two touchdowns. Averaging 4.1 yards per carry.
Kendricks and Freeman are the only two players the Cowboys have signed who weren't with the team a year ago.
CeeDee Lamb is holding out until he gets a deal. Micah Parsons still hasn't gotten his new contract, and we think Dak Prescott is playing for his career in Dallas in 2024.
Stephen Jones defends the Cowboys lack of spending in free agency. He said they have to hold money back to sign Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and Micah Parsons. https://t.co/5BkAw3UnWS
— Clarence Hill Jr (@clarencehilljr) April 16, 2024
Yet, if Jerry and the crew had just gotten things done a month ago. They could have cleared nearly $50 million in cap space, and maybe we are having a different conversation about Dallas.
It's going to be an interesting next two months for Dallas. But If I had to guess, Lamb will get a new deal sometime in the summer months.
Maybe around June or July—that is just how they do things. Parsons will probably show up without a new deal, as he still has two years left, but his price, like CeeDee's, is going to go through the roof.
