The Cowboys entered free agency on the hunt for a green dot middle linebacker. They wanted someone who could be a conduit for new defensive coordinator Christian Parker’s vision on the field.
It seemed they always had a circle around one option. Now it seems they’ll have to look elsewhere.
Former Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean agreed to a three-year deal with the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday, according to multiple reports. Deals can’t be finalized until Wednesday, which marks the start of the league year.
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Dean, a former third-round pick out of Georgia, is someone the Cowboys had their eyes on for a while. Multiple people familiar with the situation told The Dallas Morning News at the combine that he would be a target for Dallas. Instead, he heads to Las Vegas.
Dean is talented, but he’s also been susceptible to injuries during his four-year career. He played in a full season only once. That was during his rookie season when he played sparingly. He’s played in only 30 games the last three seasons, including five back in 2023.
Dean’s best season came in 2024. He was a key part of the Eagles’ run to a Super Bowl title. He finished that season with 128 tackles, nine tackles for loss and three sacks in 15 games.
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