8 Cowboys that could be cut before taking a snap in 2021

Francis Bernard, Luke Gifford – LBs

I’m lumping these two young linebackers together, Francis Bernard and Luke Gifford, as they are in the same boat when it comes to making the Cowboys’ final roster this year. There simply isn’t enough room on the depth chart.

To the surprise of most, Dallas used their first-round selection in the 2021 NFL Draft on Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons. Then the team drafted a falling LSU linebacker in Jabril Cox in the fourth round.

Parsons and Cox now joining an overflowing linebacker corps that already possesses two former Pro Bowlers in Leighton Vander Esch and Jaylon Smith. Now throw in the fact new defensive coordinator Dan Quinn brought in safety Keanu Neal from his former team, the Atlanta Falcons, and promptly converted him to linebacker.

Suddenly, there seems to be little room for developing linebackers like Bernard and Gifford with all the additions made this offseason. Two of those adds being shiny new draft picks who are expected to soak up all the extra snaps left by the retirement of Sean Lee and the loss of Joe Thomas via free agency.