Could signing Nakobe Dean be the first big move in Cowboys’ quest to revamp their defense?

INDIANAPOLIS — As the Cowboys begin the process of providing upgrades for new defensive coordinator Christian Parker’s unit, a name has emerged for one of the inside linebacker spots: Nakobe Dean.

The inside linebacker has spent the last four seasons with the Eagles and enters unrestricted free agency as a target for the Cowboys, two people with knowledge of the discussions told The Dallas Morning News.

Dean, a third-round pick in the 2022 NFL draft, played 10 games last season after returning from a torn patellar tendon in his left knee suffered in a playoff game the previous season. His best season was 2024, when he had a career-high 128 tackles.

Team officials believe Dean is the right fit to play in a 3-4 scheme, and quite possibly become the middle linebacker for Parker, who is familiar with him. He played for Parker two seasons in Philadelphia.

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Most new defensive coordinators want players to help teach their scheme and that starts at linebacker.

The last two defensive coordinators, Matt Eberflus and Mike Zimmer, employed veteran middle linebackers for their 4-3 schemes.

Eric Kendricks (Zimmer) and Jack Sanborn (Eberflus) were offseason signings with the hope of securing that position, at least for one year.

Kendricks led the team with 138 tackles in 2024.

Sanborn struggled at middle linebacker with his play and his health and was replaced by Kenneth Murray, who was playing out of position. Shemar James, who played an off-the-ball linebacker spot, led the team with 91 tackles. Murray finished with 81 while playing in three more total games.

At the trade deadline, the Cowboys acquired Logan Wilson from Cincinnati, but he didn’t get much playing time and was eventually released once the 2025 season ended.

So now, Parker will get his chance to find a middle linebacker to help run his defense.

“We got to improve on the personnel side and it’s going to take a lot of work,” Cowboys co-owner Stephen Jones told The News this week during the NFL scouting combine. “It seems like it’s Line 1, get someone to execute (the defensive coordinator’s) defenses,”

Jones said the Cowboys haven’t had a consistent player at middle linebacker since Leighton Vander Esch, who retired after the 2023 season due to neck problems.

But if the team can sign Dean to a multi-year contract, it might bring some stability to that position.

When it comes to the other players at linebacker, coach Brian Schottenheimer said Thursday that changes are coming.

The team is moving inside linebacker Marist Liufau and defensive end Donovan Ezeiruaku to outside linebacker in a base 3-4 scheme.

Liufau, a 2024 third-round pick, just hasn’t found consistent playing time. A move to outside linebacker, where Schottenheimer said he must bulk up, could be a benefit.

The Cowboys were impressed with Ezeiruaku, a 2025 second-round selection, and his ability to stop the run. He was drafted as more of a defensive end. Parker wants bigger defensive ends along the line, such as moving Quinnen Williams (6-3, 303 pounds) to that spot in a 3-4 scheme. Ezeiruaku is 6-2, 248 pounds.

Schottenheimer expressed excitement with DeMarvion Overshown to play an inside linebacker spot as well, but surgeries to both knees slowed his growth.

Overshown enters a contract year with the hopes of getting a new deal from the Cowboys, and staying healthy and producing should help in that.

“He’s excited about an offseason for the first time in a while,” Schottenheimer said of Overshown. “Which is what young players need. Certainly guys as talented as he is. Again, we’ve got some guys that we’re excited about that are young.”

The Cowboys can begin contact talks with free agents on March 9. Signing Dean is the first big move in the Cowboys’ quest to revamp a defense that ranked among the worst last season.

When Dean was a rookie coming out of Georgia in 2022, he was deemed too small by the Cowboys’ defensive staff. Dean is 5-11 and 231 pounds. That size doesn’t bother Parker, who is looking for a key signing.

“I think as we go through this process, we’ll see how free agency goes,” Schottenheimer said. “That’s the first line of action, if you will, as we go through this process. But again, I see it being built with some veterans and some young players.”

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