Could the Dallas Cowboys find their next great middle linebacker this offseason?

The NFL draft is only a month away and it apparently can’t come soon enough for the Dallas Cowboys, who, in free agency, have been unable so far to plug the leaks in their boat.

A problematic failure, no doubt, though, to be fair, it’s a holey boat.

Looking back on it, in fact, we probably owe Matt Eberflus an apology. Maybe his zone scheme wasn’t the problem after all. He’d probably like a do-over with the guys Jerry Jones has collected for the new defensive coordinator.

Just the same, even with the Cowboys’ flurry of transactions, it’s instructive to note there isn’t a single linebacker in the bunch. And it’s not like it was a position of strength. Not like in the good ol’ days.

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Now, even I realize times and defenses have changed. Linebackers no longer carry the cachet Lee Roy Jordan did when he roamed the field with malevolence in mind. Middle linebackers, in particular, have been devalued. They don’t even call them that anymore. Now it’s “Mike” linebacker.

Fair to say that I don’t like Mike.

Not the Cowboys’ line of Mikes, anyway.

Kenneth Murray wore the position’s “green dot” most of last season, and the color didn’t suit him. Looked no better in a brief audition by Logan Wilson, who subsequently retired, continuing the recent trend of come-and-go Mikes.

Not to harp on history here, but, from 1960-95, the Cowboys employed a half-dozen starters at middle linebacker. You can probably name all six. Jerry Tubbs, Lee Roy Jordan, Bob Breunig, Eugene Lockhart, Ken Norton Jr. and Robert Jones. They accumulated 10 Pro Bowl appearances, half by Jordan.

Since 1995, a dozen potential heirs to Jordan have occupied the position. They’ve got three Pro Bowls to show for it. Sean Lee, who has two, would rank with Lee Roy and Breunig if his body hadn’t betrayed him. But that’s the problem. The Cowboys knew his injury history and risk when they drafted him. Same with Jaylon Smith and Leighton Vander Esch. Hard, then, to call it bad luck later.

As for the rest over the last 30 years, Dat Nguyen and Bradie James were solid, and when Rolando McClain hit you, you felt it.

Otherwise, it’s not what you’d call a distinguished list. A couple even escaped my admittedly faulty recall.

Here’s the thing about the list: The Cowboys have made the same mistake at middle linebacker that they’ve committed at safety, another “devalued” position. Also another lost cause around here. Remember my love letters for Earl Thomas? The lovely wife was starting to get ideas.

The good news is they seem to have learned their lesson at safety. Or else why would Jerry give Jalen Thompson a three-year deal for $33 million? He’s earned it, if you were wondering. According to Pro Football Focus, Thompson was the league’s fourth-most valuable safety in 2023. His low missed-tackle rate over the last two seasons ranked fifth among qualifying safeties.

They’re finally paying for the beef upfront on defense, too. Went overboard, if you ask me. Still, Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark rate as upgrades over most of their predecessors this century.

Now it’s time to do the same at middle linebacker. He doesn’t necessarily have to be a Pro Bowler. Frankly, I’d settle for a guy who could get everyone lined up. By all accounts, they’ve tried this offseason. Talked to Nakobe Dean and Quay Walker, both of whom signed with the Raiders. Other veterans are reportedly available by trade, but the Cowboys have yet to move on any.

Which makes you think maybe they’re targeting a linebacker in the first round next month. I’ve already vouched for Sonny Styles, Ohio State’s Superman. A home run pick. But his numbers were so spectacular at the combine, he’s apparently worked his way into the top 10 and out of the Cowboys’ reach.

For that matter, the 12th pick might be a little rich for the Cowboys at linebacker, as much as it pains me to type that. They need a cornerback, too. If Mansoor Delane or Jermod McCoy is available, so be it.

And if CJ Allen, Georgia’s fine middle linebacker, is around for the 20th pick, so much the better.

Maybe Texas Tech’s Jacob Rodriguez could also bear the responsibility of the green dot. Just a question of whether he’s worthy of a first-day pick or if he’d still be around in the third.

Bottom line: The Cowboys might yet find a fine middle linebacker in the draft, but it shouldn’t come to that. Once it became clear Vander Esch could no longer play, they tried the last two seasons to patch the position, with predictable results. Eric Kendricks and Murray were busts. Unless they make a deal in the next few weeks, they may have to draft from a position of need instead of taking the best talent available. Never the way to go into a draft if you can help it.

But, if they do come up with a linebacker worthy of what was once a great legacy, well, all’s forgiven. Some, anyway.

Twitter/X: @KSherringtonDMN

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