As OTAs near, Cowboys looking thin at linebacker

Even if Micah Parsons and Sam Williams split time on the line and at linebacker there is one big issue in Dallas:

The Cowboys are thin at this position in 2024. And it doesn’t look like there’s any help coming.

Both Parsons and Williams are listed as defensive ends on the depth chart.

Both can move around and play as linebackers as needed.

But that still leaves just eight linebackers on the roster as the team preps for next week’s OTAs at The Star. And there are big question marks hanging above most of them.

The Veteran Free Agent

Dallas signed free agent linebacker Eric Kendricks prior to the draft.

Kendricks looked to be headed for San Francisco. But Mike Zimmer managed to entice him to come to Dallas instead.

Kendricks played for Zimmer up in Minnesota. That familiarity was one large factor.

But it likely helped knowing that Kendricks arrives in Dallas as the Cowboys’ starting middle linebacker this fall.

He was, at best, going to be a backup for the 49ers.

Kendricks played for the Chargers in 2023 and had 3.5 sacks and 117 tackles in just 15 games. If Dallas can get that kind of production from him in his 10th season then the signing will pay off.

The Sophomore Starter

Damone Clark was thrust into a starting role in his second year last season.

In 17 games he had 109 tackles, but no sacks. He is likely going to start again in 2024, leaving one starting job unfilled.

And that’s where things start getting thin in the linebackers’ room.

The Third Rounders

Last year, the Cowboys selected Texas linebacker DeMarvion Overshown in the third round.

Early in camp and in preseason games, he looked like a sure starter for Dallas. Then came the knee injury on a tackle in Seattle.

Overshown never saw a down of action in the regular season in 2023.

And no one knows how well he is going to bounce back from the injury this year.

If he can come back to form, the Cowboys won’t be in such dire shape. If he can’t, Dallas may have to turn to a rookie.

Marist Liufau was taken with the Cowboys second, third-round pick last month.

In 25 games over his final two seasons at Notre Dame, Liufau recorded a total of 95 tackles and 3.5 sacks.

Dallas thought highly enough of Liufau to pass over Payton Wilson – who was much-higher rated at linebacker. Liufau might have to prove them right sooner rather than later.

The Second Time Around

Back in 2015, Dallas drafted linebacker Damien Wilson out of Minnesota.

Wilson started 22 games over four seasons in Dallas. He averaged around 30 tackles a season during his first stint.

Wilson played two seasons in Kansas City, then a season each in Jacksonville and Carolina.

His best year came in 2022 with the Jaguars when he finished with 106 tackles and three sacks in 17 starts – all career highs.

Dallas brought him back in January and he’ll likely serve as a backup. He also can serve as a mentor of sorts.

He has a ring from his time with the Chiefs.

Hopefully he can show the younger linebackers what it takes to go deep into the playoffs.

Maybe some of that will rub off on the rest of the team too.

Who Are These Guys?

You’d be forgiven if you’d ask that question when looking at the last three players in the room.

Buddy Johnson was originally drafted by the Steelers out of Texas A&M in the fourth round in 2021. He played in four games that year and recorded two tackles.

He was out of the NFL in 2022 before Dallas brought him in for two games in 2023.

Johnson had four tackles in those two appearances.

Jason Johnson was an undrafted free agent out of UCF, who also played at Eastern Illinois.

He could be the steal of the UDFA class. Could, is a word to be stressed here.

He’s coming off of back-to-back 100+ tackle seasons at UCF. He was also the defensive MVP at the Hula Bowl.

Brock Mogensen, an undrafted free agent out of South Dakota, could also make an impact for Dallas.

He too is coming off of consecutive 100-tackle seasons.

But both he and Jason Johnson slipped through the cracks of the draft for a reason. It remains to be seen if Dallas got a pair of steals with these signings.