Will the Dallas Cowboys field two Pro Bowl linebackers in 2019?

The Dallas Cowboys might just possess the most talented linebacker corps in the NFL. But will they have as many as two get a Pro Bowl nomination in 2019?

At the eight minute mark during the first quarter of the 2016 Fiesta Bowl, Notre Dame linebacker Jaylon Smith suffered a knee injury that not only tore his left ACL and LCL, but also caused significant nerve damage. Projected to be a possible top-five selection in that year’s NFL draft, Smith tumbled down draft boards due to the career-threatening injury all the way to the Dallas Cowboys in the second round, 34th overall.

After a year of rehab and playing with a custom brace for drop foot, Smith made his Cowboys’ debut in 2017. Although not quite 100 percent, the talented defender willed himself to record 81 tackles, two forced fumbles and a sack while playing in all 16 regular season games.

Last season, Smith appeared to be fully recovered from his injury. And with first-round rookie Leighton Vander Esch beside him, Jaylon put up a near Pro Bowl performance posting 121 tackles, 4.0 sacks, two forced fumbles plus two recoveries, his first career defensive touchdown and earned rave reviews across the entire league.

Although it was Vander Esch who would earn the Pro Bowl nod as a rookie, it was the Cowboys linebacker corps that was praised as one of the youngest and most talented in the league. Only three years removed from his devastating knee injury, it appears that Smith is now on a Pro Bowl path himself.

Here’s what Around the NFL Writer Marc Sessler wrote on NFL.com after choosing Jaylon Smith as the Cowboys’ likely first-time Pro Bowler in 2019.

"“Let’s remember that marvelous rookie Leighton Vander Esch was initially snubbed by voters before landing in the Pro Bowl as an alternate. His linebacking partner in crime could be next. Smith recorded the top pass-rush win percentage (27.8) and second-best pass-rush grade (84.8) at his position, per Pro Football Focus. Two Cowboys ‘backers are not too many for this year’s all-star festivities.”"

The starting trio of Jaylon Smith, Leighton Vander Esch and Sean Lee could end up being the most talented linebacker corps in the history of the Dallas Cowboys. Of course, those kinds of accolades and labels are meaningless without the wins to back up such boasts. The 2019 version of America’s Team certainly has the talent on paper to make a deep playoff run this upcoming season. And Jaylon Smith is one of the reasons why.