The Dallas Cowboys still have four games left in the 2017 season, but this offseason may already be on the minds of those in the Cowboys front office. This offseason, the Cowboys have multiple key players hitting free agency: DeMarcus Lawrence, David Irving, Jonathan Cooper, Alfred Morris, and Anthony Hitchens.
That last guy on my list may be the most underappreciated player on the team.
When you're in the same free agent pool as DeMarcus Lawrence, who leads the NFL in sacks with 13.5, and David Irving, who has been on a tear of late (7.0 sacks in just eight games), it's understandable to fly somewhat under the radar. But allowing Anthony Hitchens to sign elsewhere would be a massive mistake for the Dallas Cowboys.
In his four years with the Cowboys, Anthony Hitchens has improved each season and this year he has finally broken out. In his first three years with the team Hitchens has 36 starts, 220 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and 1 interception.
Not only has he been great at middle linebacker, but he's also slid in and played WILL linebacker at a high level when asked to.
Hitchens' position flexibility is something this defense heavily relies on.
After suffering a foot injury in a preseason game against the Oakland Raiders, some initially thought that his season would be over. Hitchens missed just four games in the beginning of the year and came back to be one of the few bright spots on a defense that has been extremely inconsistent all season.
In eight games, Hitchens has 40 tackles, and has been a force stopping the run. The fourth-year player has had to play multiple linebacker positions due to the injuries of Sean Lee, and the inconsistent play of Jaylon Smith and Justin Durant.
Wherever Anthony Hitchens is asked to play he does his job at an extremely high level.
The runner was ruled down, but what a crazy effort by Anthony Hitchens to strip the ball upside down in the air pic.twitter.com/xOd570ZKqO
If his level of play hasn't impressed the Cowboys' front office enough to re-sign him, the lack of talent and depth at linebacker definitely should.
At the end of the 2017 season, the Cowboys linebacker depth chart will look a little something like this:
- Sean Lee
- Jaylon Smith
- Damien Wilson
That is not ideal after seeing the struggles of both Jaylon Smith and Damien Wilson, and the injury history of Sean Lee.
This Defense Lacks Physicality Without Hitchens
Hitchens always seems to be around the football and that shows from his 15 total tackles from the Washington game last week.
While he's not quite on the same level as Sean Lee, Hitchens does a very good job of shooting the right gaps and taking good angles on ball carriers. His play against the run and the little bit of work he does in coverage, makes him one of the best defenders on the Cowboys' roster.
Watch Anthony Hitchens blow up the TE and make the play
😲#WASvsDAL #DallasCowboys pic.twitter.com/kUm05gdXyR— AMG (@WarriorBetMMA) December 1, 2017
The Cowboys' defense by no means has been great in 2017, but it's tough to think about what the defense would look like if Anthony Hitchens isn't on the roster.
Re-signing a player that stays relatively healthy and has the position flexibility of Anthony Hitchens is a no-brainer for me. Let's hope the Dallas front office feels the same way.
I think Hitchens has earned a new contract. However, that shouldn’t deter the team from seeking linebacker talent in the draft(Roquon Smith/Malik Jefferson). Hitchens is the perfect plug and play player, and it seems to behoove him to come off the bench in Marinelli’s rotating scheme. Just my opinion.
Totally agree. I still want the boys to grab an ILB in the draft. Roquan in the 1st, would be great. He even looks like Sean Lee in his play. If not him, there are some very good ILBs in the 2nd and 3rd rounds also.
i do like hitchens, solid LB who has become the “thumper” of the group. he is a must re-sign.
i am also a fan of wilson. he quietly plays his game while making a lot of plays, he can also lay the wood. i do think he needs to be used in blitz packages a more. hopefully 57 works on his coverage skills over the off season something he needs to improve on, he needs to return as well.
regarding the video of him blowing up the TE, you saw what happened to Paul (TE) last time he tried to lead block, 50 put his but to sleep…..he wanted no more of it.
Hitchens is a rotational guy at best. He misses way too many tackles trying to lower the boom. Wrap the runner up and bring them down. That is something the whole team needs to work on. Hitchens also lacks coverage skills.
Yes, he must be re-signed! Specially if Lee goes down again. I don’t know if there will be enough money to sign all those free agents, but I do know the team does not have a “quality next man up”, except for Rod Smith, who can be a fine replacement of Morris.
Ya if we can afford Lawrence,Irving and him. Love those first 2 playing together if they can stay off the suspended list or injury list. We need stud corners in the draft though hope they let McClay pick this one.