Dallas Cowboys sign linebacker with blazing 4.4 speed
The Dallas Cowboys signed a linebacker on Tuesday with blazing 4.4 speed. Originally drafted by Kris Richard, can this veteran find a role in Dallas?
The Dallas Cowboys linebacker corps is shaping up to be one of their top positional group this upcoming season. After losing longtime veteran Anthony Hitchens this offseason, Dallas countered by using their first round selection in last month’s draft to select Boise State linebacker Leighton Vander Esch 19th overall.
Along with the rookie, Dallas also fields a starting linebacker front that includes two-time Pro Bowler Sean Lee and 2016 second rounder Jaylon Smith. This trio is expected to take this Cowboys defense to new heights this season.
Unfortunately, depth is a major issue. Outside of their starting threesome, the Cowboys have Damien Wilson and a group of unknowns filling vital roles on the bench. A former fourth rounder, Wilson has show flashes of solid play but has been far too inconsistent during his three seasons in Dallas.
Beyond Wilson, the depth at linebacker in Dallas is full of nothing but question marks. Veterans Joe Thomas, Tre’Von Johnson and Justin March-Lillard join rookies Chris Covington, Joel Lanning and Kyle Queiro to form the most questionable bench on the team.
Clearly, the Cowboys are hoping someone emerges out of this group this offseason. If not, Dallas will likely dip into free agency to fill that need. It would be similar to the move we saw last season when they signed veteran linebacker Justin Durant.
With the idea that one of their younger linebackers could step up, it’s no wonder why the Cowboys keep adding more fliers to the roster. On Tuesday, they signed another in former Seattle Seahawks’ linebacker Eric Pinkins.
Originally drafted in the sixth round of the 2014 NFL Draft out of San Diego State, Pinkins was a 6-foot-3, 220 pound safety selected by a Seahawks to play cornerback on a Legion of Boom defense that featured Kris Richard as it’s defensive backs coach. Richard is now in that very same position in Dallas, as well as being the Cowboys’ passing game coordinator.
During his final two seasons in college, Pinkins posted a total of 140 tackles, 14.0 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, three interceptions, two forced fumbles and a defensive touchdown.
A Lisfranc injury robbed Pinkins of his entire rookie season in the NFL. The following year, Seattle switched him to linebacker, hoping to take advantage of his blazing 4.4 speed. That offseason, head coach Pete Carrol called Pinkins “probably the most improved guy on the football field” prior to training camp.
Despite a promising preseason performance, Seattle released Pinkins during final cuts and added him to their practice squad. He would eventually get called up to the active roster and played in six games, recording a total of two tackles. In 2016, Pinkins was signed by the New York Giants and ended up recording only one tackle in five games. He did not play anywhere last season.
Next: Comparing the Cowboys WR corps amongst NFC East foes
With the signing of Eric Pinkins, the Dallas Cowboys add yet another traits prospect to their roster hoping to strike gold where other teams have failed. But this signing does reunite Pinkins with Kris Richard. So clearly the Cowboys’ defensive backs coach believes he can still pull something out of this player … or he’s at least willing to try. Stay tuned.