The Cowboys have some work to do at linebacker.
DeMarvion Overshown’s emergence as an impact player was one of the Dallas Cowboys’ few bright spots in 2024, but a Week 14 injury ended his year and put part of next season in jeopardy. Accounting for his absence, and potentially the loss of another top linebacker in free agency, are major topics for Dallas this offseason.
Under Contract
DeMarvion Overshown, Marist Liufau, Damone Clark
Buddy Johnson, Brock Mogensen
Potential Departures
Eric Kendricks, Nick Vigil, Darius Harris
Overshown tore multiple right knee ligaments last December and his return is not expected until sometime during the 2025 regular season. Given the 2023 injury to his left knee, Overshown’s return will no doubt be treated with extreme caution by the Cowboys as they don’t want to compromise one of their most exciting young talents long-term. But at this point, you could just as easily project that he’ll be back in October as guessing he won’t return until 2026.
That uncertainty presents a pickle for the front office. Do you strategize around the hope of an earlier return or prepare for the worst? One could leave you shorthanded, and the other could feel like wasting resources at one position at the expense of another. But like it or not, that’s where we are.
Eric Kendricks’ first year in Dallas went about as well as anyone could’ve hoped for. The veteran provided immediate stability, leading the team in tackles while chipping in three sacks, two interceptions, and three forced fumbles. His one-year contract is up and Mike Zimmer isn’t here anymore for the personal connection, so whether or not the 33-year-old gets re-signed is hard to say.
Thankfully, despite a lot of hand-wringing after the last draft, Marist Liufau looked more than deserving of being a third-round pick. He pushed Damone Clark down the depth chart and is the one reliable asset currently signed to play linebacker in 2025. He’ll certainly need help, especially with a new defensive system coming under Matt Eberflus, but Liufau showed the potential to start in his second season.
Speaking of Clark, the coordinator change may do him some good. After starting all 17 games in 2023, something didn’t click between Clark and Zimmer’s scheme and he fell into a minimal backup role. Now entering the final year of his rookie deal, Clark should be highly motivated to reverse course in his career. He could still vie for a big part in the rotation, especially for whatever period Overshown is absent.
Free Agency
Again, there are several ways this can go depending on Dallas’ confidence in Overshown’s return. Another short-term deal with a veteran, be it retaining Kendricks or looking to someone like Lavonte David or Bobby Wagner could make sense both for roster need and the leadership, mentoring role for the Cowboys’ young prospects.
Taking a chance on Dre Greenlaw could be interesting, but would they want to double down on injury risk given the Overshown situation? And would you want to add a younger guy like him or Nick Bolton if you think Overshown and Liufau can cover the position for the next few years?
At the very least, Dallas will need someone to compete with Liufau and Clark for a starting job in camp. Maybe Overshown comes back on the early side and makes that free agent less useful, but extra depth isn’t really a problem.
2025 NFL Draft
Given what they already have in young, recently-drafted prospects, the Cowboys probably won’t spend anything above a Day 3 pick at linebacker. We’re not talking about the likes of Abdul Carter or Jalon Walker; they’d primarily be edge rushers in Dallas with some position flex like Micah Parsons. Dallas could justify one of them at any point, especially depending on some of their free agent departures at defensive end.
No, this is about the true MIKE and WILL backers who would patrol the middle of the field. Once you get into the fifth round and Dallas’ multiple picks there, a new LB for development and depth makes sense. If someone falls from the likes of Smael Mondon, Chris Paul, and Jeffrey Bassa, they could easily be taken at the 150th pick to fill a spot and probably replace Clark in 2026.
Granted, we’re assuming that Dallas won’t come out of free agency with at least a re-signed Kendricks or someone to replace him. But if that were to happen, the draft need would naturally increase. They could very well consider Walker or Jihaad Campbell early at that point, given their versatility in both coverage and pass-rushing skill. Or perhaps Clemson’s Barrett Carter on Day 2.
Final Thoughts
It’d be easier to project how Dallas will behave if not for its well-established reputation for offseason apathy. But with Overshown’s unknown status and only Liufau and Clark behind him, it’s hardly a year that the Cowboys can afford to take the position for granted. They went through it in 2023 when Overshown’s first injury and Leighton Vander Esch’s issues forced Clark to start and Markquese Bell to get pulled over from safety. They barely got by that year, and that may be generous given the consistent weakness against the run.
Transitioning to a new defensive coordinator increases the need for options. Will Eberflus want someone who he’s worked with and who can help the rest of the group? Will he have stylistic preferences that make current options more expendable? Given the versatile roles they play depending on the schemes, linebackers are generally one of the positions most impacted by a coaching change.
