Dallas must draft a middle linebacker next week

Given the issues Dallas had at stopping the run in 2023 – along with the retirement of Leighton Vander Esch – the Cowboys must draft a middle linebacker next week.

Yes, the free agency signing of Eric Kendricks addressed that concern somewhat. But Kendricks is 32, on a one-year deal, and is not the long-term answer.

The good news is that the Cowboys seem set at outside linebacker – at least for now.

So between Kendricks this year and whoever they draft next week, the inside linebacker position should be filled for some time.

While this week’s signing of Royce Freeman isn’t the long-term answer at running back either, it may be a sign that the Cowboys will likely take a linebacker in the second round next week.

Two Likely Targets

The two names that come up in most mock drafts are two solid interior linebackers. Either one would be a solid selection.

(I’ll resist the obligatory “which means Jerry will take a tight end in the second round anyway” snark. Oops, did it anyway. Sorry about that.)

The top name on most lists for inside linebackers is Texas A&M’s Edgerrin Cooper.

The ex-Aggie has great athleticism and explosive speed. More importantly, he is a monster against the run.

And that is something Dallas needs an abundance of.

In his last season at Texas A&M, Cooper had 83 tackles, eight sacks, and two forced fumbles along with one defended pass.

One red flag of concern cropped up after the season ended.

While Cooper had a solid performance in the East-West Shrine game, he refused to practice with the team. He also interviewed poorly with the NFL teams there.

He also fared poorly in his NFL Combine interviews.

Still, he has the on-field talent worth drafting in the first two rounds. The problem for Dallas is, they may not get a chance to draft him.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are also interested in Cooper. And they draft ahead of Dallas.

Another player to watch for is Clemson’s Jeremiah Trotter Jr.

Projected to go no higher than the third round, Trotter would need a year as a backup to fully learn the NFL game at the position.

Kendricks, and new defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, could be exactly what he needs.

In 2023, Trotter had 87 tackles, 5.5 sacks, two interceptions, five passes defended and two forced fumbles.

So maybe grabbing him in the second round if the Steelers do snag Cooper wouldn’t be a bad idea.

Dark Horse Candidates

Let’s say Dallas goes offensive line in the first two rounds – or wide receiver/running back – as discussed in earlier posts here on Inside The Star.

Or, both Cooper and Trotter have been taken before the Cowboys have a chance to grab either of them. What is left from the inside linebacker pool to draw from?

North Carolina’s Cedric Gray could still be there as late as the third round.

Gray finished the 2023 season with 121 tackles, five sacks, two forced fumbles, with two fumble recoveries, an interception and four passes defended.

Solid numbers. But he tends to miss tackles.

A tendency that Zimmer will drill out of him, making Gray a solid prospect.

Michigan’s Junior Colson might drop into the third round as well.

But with Dallas’ recent string of busts with players from Michigan, do they push their luck and hope the fourth time is the charm?

Methinks the ghost of Taco Charlton is still a little too fresh in Cowboys fans’ memories to take Colson.

Colson is a solid run stopper, so he might be worth a shot despite the history. He had 95 tackles in 2023 after recording 101 the year before while also getting two sacks on his scoresheet.

So maybe he could end the Wolverine curse at The Star is the Cowboys do draft him.

Notre Dane’s Marist Liufu is fast, athletic, and plays the run with extreme malice aforethought.

But he has an injury history – the Cowboys last middle linebacker had trouble staying on the field. Do they really want to do that all over again?

An extreme longshot might be Cal’s Jackson Sirmon.

His stats for 2023 were poor, only because he played in just seven games. Still, he finished with 47 tackles.

In 2022 he had 104 tackles, 3.5 sacks, a forced fumble and four passes defended. In 2021 he had 91 tackles.

He could fall as far as the fifth round.

If he’s there, and Dallas still hasn’t addressed the position, the Cowboys should take him.