Just three years ago, Isaiah Land was looking like an undrafted rookie gem for the Cowboys. His career took a detour with another team, but the pass rushing prospect is now back for a second shot at a roster spot in Dallas’ 2026 training camp.
Background
Years in NFL: 3
Acquired by: Free agency (2025)
In 2021, Land was one of the top performers in the NCAA subdivision at Florida A&M, winning nearly every possible accolade after a 19-sack season. The next year, a temporary academic ineligibility issue and a knee
injury caused him to miss games and brought down his performance. As such, he entered the 2023 draft cycle without much going for him. Listed at just 6’3” and just 236 lbs. at the time, Land was barely big enough to play as a 3-4 OLB, let alone at 4-3 end. This all led to him going undrafted, but he did get signed up by the Cowboys.
Despite running a 4-3 scheme at the time under Dan Quinn, Dallas worked on developing Land as a pass-rushing specialist. He was a standout that summer, with many projecting he’d earned his way onto the roster. But as happens so often with our preseason pet cats, Land’s name was among others at final cuts. The Cowboys likely would have had him on the practice squad, but didn’t get a chance as the Colts claimed him off waivers.
Land spent two years in Indianapolis as a backup pass rusher and occasional special teamer, appearing in 17 total games. He didn’t get much run with just 109 total defensive snaps from 2023-2024, but did register his first and only career sack in his rookie season. Land competed for a third season with Indy in 2025 but was part of its final cuts. He went through waivers, and shortly after re-joined the Cowboys on their practice squad. Land spent all of last year there, never getting called up for a game, but did get a future contract to come back and compete this summer.
Contract Status
Years Left: 2
2026 Cap Hit: $1.19 million
Unsurprisingly, Land has a minimal deal for a fourth-year veteran with no guaranteed money.
2026 Projections
Role: Backup OLB
Roster Chance: 10%
On the plus side for Land, Dallas’ new 3-4 scheme gives him a much better chance to catch on as an OLB than he’s had previously. He’s had three years to build up his mass and strength, with the team’s official website now listing him at 245 lbs. But on the the down side, the Cowboys may already have a full depth chart at OLB and nowhere for Land to break in.
In some order, Donovan Ezeiruaku, Rashan Gary, and Malachi Lawrence make a clear top three. Then you have James Houston and Sam Williams as the top contenders for backup roles. Even if one of them falters, Land will be up against Marist Liufau and Tyrus Wheat for consideration.
You can’t ignore that Dallas thinks enough of Land that he was still on their radar after a two-year absence, spent all of 2025 on the practice squad, and got a chance to come back again this season. Dismissing him entirely as a contender this summer would be going too far. But the odds are still heavily against him, as all of the players we mentioned above go into camp at least one step ahead of Land on the path to the roster.
Check out our previous player profiles from this series:
RB Israel Abanikanda
C Cooper Beebe
G Tyler Booker
S Alijah Clark
OLB Donovan Ezeiruaku
TE Jake Ferguson
WR Ryan Flournoy
C Matt Hennessy
S Malik Hooker
OLB James Houston
WR Jordan Hudson
LB Shemar James
G Trevor Keegan
CB Derion Kendrick
S P.J. Locke
FB Hunter Luepke
RB Phil Mafah
QB Joe Milton III
WR Jonathan Mingo
CB Devin Moore
LB DeMarvion Overshown
TE DJ Rogers
LS Trent Sieg
WR Anthony Smith
OT Terence Steele
CB Reddy Steward
DT Jay Toia
OLB Tyrus Wheat
OLB Sam Williams
DT D.J. Withers
