The Dallas Cowboys, like most other NFL teams, have generally liked having as many roster bases covered as possible ahead of each draft. Gaping holes at certain positions can be dead giveaways for your biggest priorities, which can either force a needs-based picks or reduce your bargaining power for trades. And in 2026, with just a few weeks to go before the big night, they are still carrying one huge liability at inside linebacker.
It’s not the only one, of course. While they have bodies at other
positions, and some with quality starting potential, they’re still missing a catalytic edge rusher and have huge questions at cornerback. The shaky nature of Tyler Guyton and Terence Steele as offensive tackles deserves attention. George Pickens’ uncertain future makes WR a conversation, as does the average age of the DT room. We could go on, but that’s normal for many teams going into a draft. Some of these spots will feel a lot better after April 25th.
But unlike where they’ve been busy this offseason to swaping out DTs and filling the secondary, ILB has gone woefully unattended! Debatable as their actual “loss” may be, Kenneth Murray and Jack Sanborn are still free agents and probably not wanted back for Christian Parker’s defense. Marist Liufau is moving to outside linebacker in the new scheme. Only subtractions so far, meaning Dallas is now going into this draft with only Shemar James, Justin Barron, and DeMarvion Overshown’s one good leg at inside linebacker. This tells the whole world what your biggest need is, and sets you up for either disappointment or having to overpay for trades.
At the 12th pick, the Cowboys could be fine with the potential for one of the top edge rushers or defensive backs to fall, or even considering BPA at an offensive spot. But Ohio State’s Sonny Styles sticks out as the blue chipper who also satisfies their biggest current need. The perceived talent gap between him and other ILB prospects like C.J. Allen or Jacob Rodriguez is sizeable, leaving either of them as questionable choices at the 12th pick and perhaps even the 20th, depending on who else is available at other positions.
Dallas would likely have to trade up to get Styles, and teams like the Giants, Browns, Commanders, Saints, and Chiefs (picks 5-9) aren’t going to make it easy for them. If the Cowboys reek of desperation, it will almost certainly come up in any negotiation. That Overshown/James/Barron comment I made earlier? Don’t think that one of those other teams won’t make a similar point when trying to squeeze us for more draft capital.
If the Cowboys miss on Styles and have to go to Allen, Rodriguez, or someone else, they do have more to work with in terms of their two first-round picks and the third-rounder. They should be able to get one of them at #20, or even trade down. But if they end up going more “BPA” in the first round, it’s very possible that they’ll have neither and be looking at a long wait to the 92nd pick. They’d again be looking at needing to trade up for a reliable contributor and potential starter, and face the same leverage issue.
Given these scenarios, Dallas should be looking at adding at least one potential starter at ILB ahead of the draft. We know they tried with Nakobe Dean and apparently others, based on comments from the front office and Coach Schottenheimer, but either got outbid or simply not chosen. Now that we’re in April, the free agent pool has dwindled. But consolation prizes like Bobby Wagner or Bobby Okereke would still go a long way to filling the hole, even if they don’t turn ILB into a strength.
At the very least, the Cowboys need one guy who they can trust to play a major role. Even at 36, Wagner is still performing well enough to offer that. You can feel better about the odds of draft results if it’s to find his wingman, not your number-one guy. You also can breathe better about the unknowns of Overshown’s health or development for James and Barron if they’re a spot lower on the depth chart.
Okereke had a down year for the Giants in 2025 but was one of the league’s better ILBs the season before. He turns 30 this summer but would bring a wealth of experience and stability to the spot compared to current options. If nothing else, he should be better than Murray or Sanborn.
The Cowboys are going to need at least four true ILBs on the roster, with guys like Liufau and S Markquese Bell offering potential emergency depth or formation-specific options. And there will be some veterans available after the draft, which Dallas’ front office has already said factors into their strategy. They may be banking on Wagner or Okereke being among them.
While it’s true that the Cowboys will have other ways to deal with their ILB problem beyond the draft, adding someone now has clear value. It offers security for the draft, not just for that position but to make you more flexible for other opportunities. Nobody wants to see Dallas reaching for a linebacker and missing out on a superior talent at another position, but that’s exactly where we’re headed given the current state. Adding a veteran free agent now isn’t just for the sake of that one spot, but helps to balance things and improve the big picture for the draft and potentially beyond.
