Cowboys defensive position will be a serious issue in 2025

With the NFL draft inching closer, when you look at the roster of the Dallas Cowboys one group of guys jumps on the screen, but how big of a need will it be?

The Cowboys line backing core on the surface is one of the worst in football. Just look at the depth chart, you can make an argument that, as it sits right now is the worst in all of football.

Matt Eberflus is the new Cowboys defensive coordinator, and yes he is a very ideal defensive mind, but let’s take a look at what he has to work with, and he may need to have the front office draft a guy or fork out some money to add to the depth.

https://twitter.com/clarencehilljr/status/1884778746554593513

Working With What?

Off the jump we know Eric Kendricks is set to be a free agent, and he wore the green dot for the defense this season.

He called the plays, and really only signed a one year vet deal to play for Dallas because of his former coach, Mike Zimmer. He was his head coach with the Vikings, and with him now gone, do we think Kendricks will come back, I am not sure.

DeMarvion Overshown was going to be that guy! I hate the fact that he got hurt again.

The former University of Texas star was on pace for a breakout year, but Overshown’s sophomore season was abruptly ended with a devastating knee injury (torn ACL, MCL, PCL) that he suffered in November.

Overshown is hopeful to return at some point in 2025, but former coach Mike McCarthy and executive vice president and co-owner Stephen Jones both hinted that Overshown could miss a majority of the 2025 season.

Marist Liufau, Damone Clark, Buddy Johnson, and Darius Harris are the only current linebackers outside Overshown who are under contract.

https://twitter.com/Marcus_Mosher/status/1875983248742031633

Liufau showed flashes at the end of the season in 2024 when he was added to the starting lineup, but will he be able to do that next season when the pressure is at the highest?

Liufau generated nearly half of his 50 tackles during the final four games – all starts. He added 1.5 sacks, one fumble recovery and three pass breakups over 521 defensive snaps (47%).

Draft Or Sign?

I will say that adding a linebacker should not happen in the first two rounds in April for Dallas.

They have a much bigger issues on the offensive line, defensive line and if you know who is there at running back, they could use him also.

On Wednesday, the NFL informed teams that the 2025 per-team salary cap will fall in the range of $277.5 million to $281.5 million, way up from last year’s $255.4 million. Cap will have increased by more than $53 million over the last two years.

Will the Cowboys use it in some form, I have no idea, but someone like Nick Bolton would be a great add if they finally did something in free agency.

https://twitter.com/Marcus_Mosher/status/1892235102744092780

Bolton racked up 106 tackles, three sacks, and an interception in 2024. He’s also the same player who helped the Chiefs secure a win in Super Bowl LVII when he returned a Jalen Hurts’ fumble 36 yards for a touchdown.

I mean maybe they can get Kendricks to come back on another low end deal, but I doubt it.

One guy that I would love the Dallas Cowboys to draft if they do take a linebacker is Jeffrey Bassa.

With the current state of the Dallas Cowboys linebacker room, if Overshown is out for the entire 2025 season, and they don’t bring back Eric Kendricks, Bassa is a guy they could draft in probably the 3rd round.

As a freshman and a 48-3.0-1.0 line. He saw his role expand a bit and finished with 62-4.0-2.0 the following year. He posted lines of 72-4.0-0.0 and 54-3.0-1.5 over the past two seasons to conclude his collegiate career.