Dallas Cowboys Need For Linebacker in 2024 NFL Draft 'Extremely High'

The Cowboys could make a splash during the draft.

The NFL Draft inches closer by the day and it presents an opportunity for the Dallas Cowboys to improve. With seven picks scattered through seven rounds, Patrik Walker of dallascowboys.com tabs the odds of drafting a linebacker "extremely high." 

The Cowboys suffered a blow at linebacker when they released Leighton Vander Esch with a failed physical designation. He retired three days later. The Cowboys inked a deal with Eric Kendricks after he initially seemed bound to become a San Francisco 49er.

Kendrick spent five seasons in Minnesota with Cowboys defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer. Kendricks totaled 117 tackles last season with 3.5 sacks and a forced fumble as a team captain with the Los Angeles Chargers. 

Oct 29, 2023; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Eric Kendricks (6) enters / Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Linebacker needs aside, CBS Sports' latest mock draft has the Cowboys taking Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. 

"This feels like the last season for Dak Prescott as the Cowboys starter, and while Penix isn't necessarily a quarterback who needs a redshirt year, he'll likely get one in 2024," CBS Sports' Leger Douzable wrote. The upside is there -- even though he's an older prospect -- because of his big-time throw capabilities. Taking a swing at this game's most vital position is probably not the worst idea for the Cowboys now." 

The Cowboys have one pick in the first, second, third, fifth and sixth round, then two in the seventh. The NFL Draft is set for April 25 in Detroit. There are, it can be argued, not enough picks to fill the gaps created by free agency and other springtime shuffling ... meaning linebacker is on the list of concerns.