Cowboys News: Rumors About Possible Linebacker Trades

Cowboys trade rumors: Redemption at LB still possible – Reid D. Hanson, Cowboys Wire

Even though the Cowboys missed on a few options at linebacker in free agency, there are still options out there.

Amidst the free agent feeding frenzy earlier in the month, there were rumors the Pittsburgh Steeler’s Patrick Queen was target. The former first round pick is coming off an extremely down season and at a salary cap cost of $17,193,334, Pittsburg could save as much as $13,330,000 by trading him to Dallas as a post-June 1 transaction.  The trade talk eventually fizzled and when asked for an update Harris offered two new names that have moved to the forefront of conversations: Jordyn Brooks and Azeez Al-Shaair.

Jordyn Brooks

Brooks, a 28-year-old former first round pick, is in the final year of his contract with the Miami Dolphins. Miami, currently undergoing a fire sale as they unload and rebuild, could save more than $8M by trading Brooks post-June 1. The former Texas Tech product earned a 77.8 grade from Pro Football Focus last season which was good enough for 11^th overall. He’d constitute a huge upgrade over anyone currently in Dallas and would be a plug-and-play starter alongside DeMarvion Overshown in the middle of the new 3-4 defense.

Azeez Al-Shaair

At face value, this is a hard one to believe. Al-Shaair is a beloved presence for the vaunted Houston Texans defense. He’s been consistently awesome for the past five years and at age 28, looks to be at the top of his game.Yet the contract situation in Houston may offer a window of opportunity for a predatory team like the Cowboys.

The Texans are locking down key cogs across their roster and may see Al-Shaair as a luxury they can no longer afford. Al-Shaair is looking for a new contract and chances are it’s going to be at the top of the linebacker market. Cowboys fans know all-too-well that sometimes even beloved players have to leave when contract demands no longer makes sense to a front office.

Dead market fully vindicates Cowboys’ call to release Trevon Diggs – Lior Lampert, The Landry Hat

After the Cowboys made the controversial decision to move on from Trevon Diggs, the Cowboys don’t appear to be regretting their decision.

Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones doesn’t always make the most sound decisions, so we should give him his flowers when it happens. This time, he deserves a pat on the back for moving on from veteran cornerback Trevon Diggs, who’s currently unemployed.

Diggs is among the biggest names in the second wave of free agency. However, anyone who takes a chance on him at this of his career is doing so because of past performance — not future projections. A league-wide lack of interest validates that notion; he probably would’ve found a new home by now otherwise.

There doesn’t appear to be a suitor for Diggs’ services at the moment, let alone a bidding war, which speaks volumes. Not getting a chance yet this offseason is arguably greater grounds for concern than if he were to settle for a “prove-it” deal. This suggests his current form isn’t up to snuff with the NFL’s standards, though the Cowboys seemingly already knew that.

Trevon Diggs’ quiet free agency shows the Dallas Cowboys were right to move on 

In retrospect, the Cowboys probably should’ve gone in a different direction before inking Diggs to a five-year, $97 million contract extension in July 2023. Nevertheless, that’s neither here nor there. The damage is done, and Jones deserves credit for not dragging his feet and letting one mistake lead to another one.

With Diggs initially signed through 2028, the Cowboys could’ve sat back with hopes he returns to anything resembling All-Pro status. Instead, they were reactive and took matters into their own hands upon realizing his physical decline may be too much to overcome. The once-elite ball hawk became more of a liability than a playmaker, so Dallas took necessary action and released him in December.

Who are the Dallas Cowboys main targets in the NFL Draft? – Mark Heaney, Inside the Star

With the draft fast approaching, who have the Cowboys set their sights on?

There comes a time in every NFL Draft cycle when fanbases shift from guessing to gaining a clearer idea of where their team may be headed. For the Dallas Cowboys, it feels like this week may have been that new point. New mock drafts with insider information, visit schedules, and more have started to give us a glimpse into Dallas’s potential plans.

You don’t need me to tell you how critical it is that Dallas hits on their two first-round picks this April with new defensive players; the only question is which position groups they hit, and which prospects at those spots are highest on their board. With the aforementioned stronger information, I feel confident in listing the guys who do, and don’t, appear to be in the Cowboys’ gaze as we march into April. Here, I’ll cover all the names in question so you know which way the draft wind has been blowing recently.

A pair of cornerbacks — LSU’s Manoor Delane and Tennessee’s Jermod McCoy — are seemingly at the top of Dallas’s wishlist, with Delane being the big, though possibly unattainable, prize. The Dolphins, picking 11th in front of the Cowboys, had previously been a predictable landing spot for the LSU star. Their recent trade of Jaylen Waddle, however, may open them up to taking a receiver at 11 and a cornerback at 30 with their new pick.

McCoy, who has questions about this knee after a January 2025 ACL tear, is being repeatedly mocked by the most plugged-in analysts to the Cowboys. On the EDGE front, it sounds like Miami’s Akheem Mesidor is a true candidate at 12, while UCF’s Malachi Lawrence and Clemson’s TJ Parker are risers at 20. Many will worry about Mesidor’s age and injury history, but the talent is undeniable at a major position of need. Lawrence and Parker differ greatly; the former has little name recognition and hype, while the latter has a ton from his earlier college days. Both will be considered with the 20th pick.

Third-round draft prospects who can really help the Cowboys – Mike Poland, Blogging the Boys

Getting specific with their third-round pick, who could the Cowboys take that would provide a great impact?

The Cowboys do not need to get cute in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft. The Cowboys own pick number 92 that was newly acquired in the trade for Osa Odighizuwa, and the board lines up pretty cleanly with what Brian Schottenheimer and Christian Parker have already told us about this team and their plans. Parker is building a defense that will base out of a 3-4 look, but it is a multiple front that puts a premium on smart, physical defenders. Dallas has openly emphasized nickel corner and outside linebacker as critical spots in this defense, while Schottenheimer has also made clear the Cowboys still want Tyler Smith at left guard as they sort out the best five offensive linemen.

That makes the third-round conversation feel pretty straightforward. Dallas should be looking for one of three things at at pick 92, a true middle linebacker who can settle the front, a defender who cleanly fits the new 3-4 structure, or an offensive lineman who gives the coaching staff flexibility.

Josiah Trotter

If Dallas wants to lean into the defensive reset, Josiah Trotter is one of the most sensible linebacker targets in that range. He brings the kind of downhill mentality and natural instincts that make him easy to project into the middle of a defense. The Cowboys are a team still searching for a true tone-setter at linebacker, someone who can diagnose quickly, play through contact, and give the front a little more edge. Trotter fits that picture well. He may not be the flashiest option, but he feels like the kind of player who could help stabilize the middle of the defense and give Dallas a more reliable physical presence.

Jaishawn Barham

Jaishawn Barham is another name that feels tailor-made for where the Cowboys are headed. If Dallas wants to keep adding front-seven defenders who fit a 3-4 structure without sacrificing athletic upside, Barham checks a lot of boxes. He looks like the type of developmental edge defender who can grow into a bigger role as an outside linebacker. That matters because Dallas is not just looking for pass rushers in a vacuum. The Cowboys need players who can set the edge, rush the passer, and function in space when needed. Barham offers that kind of projection, which makes him an appealing upside swing on Day 2.

Domonique Orange

If the Cowboys want the cleanest schematic fit on the defensive front, Domonique Orange makes a ton of sense thanks to being a 322-pound run-stuffing nose who can contribute right away. Dallas is clearly getting bigger and more physical up front as it leans into Parker’s new front. If the goal is to keep linebackers clean and make the run defense less of a weekly adventure, Orange looks like one of the most natural third-round fits on the board.