Ranking the best available linebackers for the Cowboys in 2024 free agency

3. Eric Kendricks

Eric Kendricks wasn't available when free agency started. However, the Chargers made him a cap casualty this week to free up $6.5 million in cap space. A former star on Mike Zimmer's Vikings, Kendricks feels like an obvious Cowboys target. Even at age-31, Kendricks was an enforcer for the Chargers in 2023 with 117 tackles and 39 defensive stops against the run. He was never a high-volume pass rusher under Zimmer, but he logged a 82.5 pass-rush grade this season that placed fourth amongst linebackers.

2. Frankie Luvu

Luvu might be an unknown commodity given he plays in Carolina, but make no mistake: he's one of the best young linebackers in the sport. Over the last two seasons, Luvu ranks prominently among LBs in pressures and sacks, and his 62 defensive stops against the run rank 12th at the position during that span. He's a heat-seeking missile both as a pass-rusher and gap-shooter to stop the run. Luvu will cost a pretty penny, but he'd give the Cowboys a franchise linebacker to build around for the next handful of years.

1. Azeez Al-Shaair

Azeez Al-Shaair is without question the best available linebacker for the Cowboys. He's fearless exploiting gaps against the run and packs a punch when he gets downhill. Al-Shaair's posted a run-defense grade north of 70 in three straight years, including in 2023 with the Titans. Pro Football Focus projects him to sign for $6.75 million per year. If that's the case, Al-Shaair should be the first call Jerry Jones makes once the legal tampering period starts on Monday. Offer him a bag and don't think twice about it. He's exactly what this defense has been missing.

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