Linebacker has been the biggest pressure point for the Dallas Cowboys this offseason. Free agency turned out to be a dud, as Dallas got snubbed by Nakobe Dean and Quay Walker and was unwilling to pay the price required to land All-Pro Devin Lloyd.
Then came the NFL Draft, where the Cowboys finally showed some aggression by trading for now-former San Francisco 49er Dee Winters and selecting Michigan's Jaishawn Barham in Round 3. The room is in a much better place, but it still lacks a field general.
As such, Dallas has been urged to sign the ageless Bobby Wagner. From fans, team reporters, and NFL analysts, everyone believes Wagner is the missing piece.
While Wagner would be a great pickup, we find it odd that nobody is talking about Bobby Okereke.
The Dallas Cowboys should sign Bobby Okereke to stabilize LB room
A defensive captain for the New York Giants over the last three years, Okereke is one of the best remaining free agents, regardless of position. He was released before the new league year as part of a major roster shakeup in East Rutherford following the hiring of John Harbaugh.
Okereke didn't play at the same level in 2025 as he did in the previous two seasons, when he was a borderline Pro Bowler, but nobody on the Giants' defense lived up to expectations outside of edge rusher Brian Burns.
The former third-round pick was caught in the fallout of a disastrous season under defensive coordinator Shane Bowen, who was fired midseason. He may have lost a step entering his age-30 season, but it’s nonsense to suggest he’s washed or has fallen off a cliff.
In Dallas, Okereke would have the luxury of playing behind Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark, who are as good as any defensive tackles at keeping linebackers clean. It'll be a lot easier for Okereke to get downhill and he'll be flanked by uber-athletic LBs in DeMarvion Overshown, Dee Winters, and Jaishawn Barham.
In New York, Okereke played behind Dexter Lawrence, who later pushed for a trade after frustration with the franchise reached a boiling point, and his supporting cast at linebacker was as thin as the Cowboys'.
Dallas wouldn't need Okereke to be Ray Lewis. The floor of the LB room was raised during the draft. All that's missing is a veteran who's been around the block and gets everyone aligned pre-snap. A seven-year vet with 95 starts under his belt, Okereke fits that bill.
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