It has long made sense that the Dallas Cowboys will pursue several Philadelphia Eagles in free agency. Aside from the fact that the Eagles have been a great team for a while now, the Cowboys’ new defensive coordinator most recently worked there. Christian Parker coached the Eagles defensive backs and was a part of their defense at large, and Dallas has a serious need for defensive talent.
The math adds up.
Nakobe Dean is a name Dallas will reportedly target
Clarence Hill reported early on Thursday morning (or late Wednesday night depending on how you
view things) that the Cowboys are expected to pursue Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean in free agency.
This makes a ton of sense. There is the Christian Parker factor, there is the fact that Dallas has a need at linebacker (we all want to believe in DeMarvion Overshown, but even if he stays healthy the team does not have many options beyond him). It really just feels like a matter of when they will pursue him, not if.
Philadelphia selected Dean out of Georgia during the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft. His athleticism has been what people have valued about his game for a long time, but his injury history may lead to him actually being a bit of a bargain (relatively speaking) in free agency this year.
The former third-round pick owns the type of athleticism and playmaking that could get him paid this offseason. In four seasons in Philly, the off-ball linebacker proved he could get after the quarterback (7.5 sacks) and patrol the middle of the field. However, an extensive injury history could curtail his payday. The defender hasn’t played a full slate since 2017, missing 21 missed regular-season games over the past three seasons alone, and was out for most of Philly’s Super Bowl run in 2024. Teams generally shy away from spending big on players with long-term durability questions, which could put Dean on a short-term prove-it path.
— Familiarity with the defensive coordinator
— Fills a position of need
— A potential bargain
That should music to the ears of Dallas Cowboys’ fans everywhere
How would you feel about the team signing Nakobe Dean?
