Dallas Cowboys should do everything they can to keep Sean Lee

The Dallas Cowboys should make every effort to keep Pro Bowl linebacker Sean Lee on the roster in 2019. And here’s why …

The Dallas Cowboys fielded one of the top linebacker corps in the NFL last season. And that’s despite the fact two-time Pro Bowl linebacker Sean Lee missed seven games due to a hamstring injury.

The 32-year old Lee has a troubling injury history throughout his nine-year career. And the last two seasons are no exception as he missed five games in 2017 with similar hamstring issues. Lee’s inability to get on the field at times certainly was a major factor in Dallas deciding to use their first round selection last year on Boise State linebacker Leighton Vander Esch.

Combined with an ascending player in Jaylon Smith, a 2016 second round selection coming off a devastating college knee injury. the duo impressed without Lee’s services last season. Smith racked up 121 tackles, 4.0 sacks and two forced fumbles in 2018. Vander Esch received a Pro Bowl nomination following an outstanding rookie campaign where he posted a whopping 140 tackles, seven pass defends and two interceptions.

Turning 33-years old in July, the future for Lee in Dallas is now in question. The veteran linebacker contemplated his future this offseason and ultimately decided he wants to play in 2019. Now the only question is where?

Lee is, in fact, still under contract in Dallas. Per ESPN, he’s scheduled to make a base salary of $7 million in 2019, which counts $10 million against the Cowboys’ salary cap. If Dallas opted to release the veteran linebacker this offseason, they would save that $7 million but would still be on the hook for just over $3 million in dead money against their cap.

But I believe a much better solution, if Lee would agree to it, would be to keep him on the roster at a reduced rate. Here’s what ESPN’s Todd Archer wrote recently about the Cowboys possibly reworking Lee’s current contract in Dallas that would allow him to stay.

"“There are ways to keep Lee at a reduced salary while also allowing him the opportunity to compete for a role with Smith and Vander Esch … The Cowboys can reduce Lee’s salary, which would create a cap savings, and then allow him the chance to earn back some of the money based on playing-time incentives.”"

Cowboys’ executive vice president Stephen Jones has gone on record saying they want Sean Lee back with the team. Lee is essentially a coach on the field now and an outstanding locker room and sideline presence to boot. It’s not a stretch to believe he could transition to being a great coach one day.

Although the Dallas Cowboys have a talented duo of young linebackers in Jaylon Smith and Leighton Vander Esch, an aging but wise veteran like Sean Lee is still a valuable piece of that puzzle. Lee’s leadership and passion on and off-the-field is at the very heart of the defensive resurgence in Dallas. The Cowboys need more role models like Lee on this roster, so the team should do everything they can to keep him.