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Dallas Cowboys to lose Anthony Hitchens; Linebacker need

By Steven Mullenax

ARLINGTON, TX - JANUARY 15: Anthony Hitchens #59 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrates a sack during the first quarter against the Green Bay Packers in their NFC Divisional Playoff game at AT&T Stadium on January 15, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX - JANUARY 15: Anthony Hitchens #59 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrates a sack during the first quarter against the Green Bay Packers in their NFC Divisional Playoff game at AT&T Stadium on January 15, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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With the news that free agent Anthony Hitchens will be signing with the Kansas City Chiefs, the Dallas Cowboys now have a pressing need at linebacker.

When the Dallas Cowboys‘ front office admitted that their free agency plans mainly included re-signing their own players, many hoped that included linebacker Anthony Hitchens. Unfortunately, it is now being reported that Hitchens will not return to Dallas this season.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero, the Kansas City Chiefs intend on signing Hitchens to a multi-year deal that will pay him a whopping $9 million per season. That reported amount would make him the fourth highest paid inside linebacker in the NFL this year according to OverTheCap.com.

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Originally a fourth round pick by the Cowboys back in 2014, Hitchens has been one of the team’s most consistent defenders during his four-year tenure in Dallas. Despite missing the first four games of 2017 due to injury last season, the 25-year old linebacker still recorded a career-high 84 combined tackles. His loss is a painful one for the Cowboys.

This signing news slingshots linebacker as a massive need for Dallas this offseason. Both projected starters in Sean Lee and Jaylon Smith come with major injury concerns. And their depth, which features unproven linebackers like Damien Wilson, Justin March-Lillard and Tre’von Johnson, means that the Cowboys must look to both free agency and the draft for help.

The loss of Hitchens could spur the Cowboys to use their first round pick, 19th overall, in the upcoming NFL Draft to find them a starter at middle linebacker. Four prospects appear to be potential candidates. They include Virginia Tech ‘s Tremaine Edmunds, Georgia’s Roquan Smith, Alabama’s Rashaan Evans and Boise State’s Leighton Vander Esch.

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Essentially, the signing away of Anthony Hitchens means the Dallas Cowboys have lost a defensive starter. They must now find themselves another one.

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