The Landry Hat
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5 Cowboys’ positions of interest heading into the 2022 NFL Combine

By Terence Watson

Dallas Cowboys defensive end Randy Gregory (94) waves good-bye to the New York Giants defense after a Giants turnover in the second half at MetLife Stadium. The Giants fall to the Cowboys, 21-6, on Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, in East Rutherford.Nyg Vs Dal
Dallas Cowboys defensive end Randy Gregory (94) waves good-bye to the New York Giants defense after a Giants turnover in the second half at MetLife Stadium. The Giants fall to the Cowboys, 21-6, on Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, in East Rutherford.Nyg Vs Dal /
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Keanu Neal, Cowboys
Keanu Neal, Dallas Cowboys (Mandatory Credit: Billy Hardiman-USA TODAY Sports) /

3. Linebacker

Cowboys Free Agents – Leighton Vander Esch, Keanu Neal, Francis Bernard (ERFA), Luke Gifford (RFA)

Possible Defensive Snaps Lost – 1,284

Possible Special Teams Snaps Lost – 711

Vander Esch came into the league and was the talk of the town after his first season with the team. Then, injuries shifted that enthusiasm and turned it into frustration for both the Cowboys and Vander Esch.

Under Quinn, Vander Esch did have a better season, but it was easy to see that once Micah Parsons took the field teams started trying to target Vander Esch in the passing game to avoid Parsons. Dallas also seemingly made a good move in signing Neal in free agency, but he was battling COVID as he tested positive twice this season.

The Cowboys have a very good chance of keeping Bernard and Gifford. They also have Jabril Cox who’s returning from an ACL injury. We don’t know if Cox will come back with the same speed he came into the league with, so if there is a linebacker that falls to the Cowboys with game-changing abilities, they need to take him.

If that doesn’t happen, they still need to find a linebacker that is strong against the run with some drop-back ability to cover in space to help build up the defense around Parsons.

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