The Dallas Cowboys are playing some of their best football since 2023, and while the offense has done its part, it’s the defense that’s quietly driving this late-season surge. Thanksgiving gave us a perfect snapshot: despite giving up 28 points to the Chiefs, the Cowboys' defense clamped down when it mattered most-pitching a shutout in both the second and third quarters. That stretch of dominant play was the difference in a game that could’ve easily slipped away.
But even with the defense trending upward, there’s a glaring issue that’s hard to ignore-and it’s sitting right in the heart of the unit: the linebacker corps. It’s a problem that likely won’t be fixed this season, but the silver lining for Dallas is that the 2026 NFL Draft just so happens to be loaded at that very position.
Linebacker: The Missing Piece in Dallas' Defensive Puzzle
Over the past few weeks, the Cowboys have made noticeable strides on defense. They’re getting stops, creating pressure, and showing signs of cohesion.
But the linebacker play? That’s still lagging behind.
DeMarvion Overshown has brought some much-needed youth and energy to the position, but he’s still learning the speed and complexity of the pro game. Logan Wilson has struggled to keep up-his lack of range has become a liability in space-and Kenneth Murray’s inconsistency continues to make him a magnet for opposing offensive coordinators looking to exploit mismatches.
There’s a reason offenses are targeting the middle of the field against Dallas: it’s where the cracks are most visible.
The good news? Help is on the way.
Murray is in the final year of his deal, and Wilson is a likely cut candidate. Jack Sanborn won’t be back in 2026 either.
That leaves the door wide open for a full-blown reset at linebacker-and it couldn’t come at a better time.
The 2026 Draft Class Lines Up Perfectly
While free agency will offer some options, the Cowboys are more likely to address linebacker in the draft-and they’ll have plenty to choose from. According to ESPN draft analyst Jordan Reid, the linebacker group in the 2026 class is not only strong at the top, but deep throughout.
Reid singled out Sonny Styles (Ohio State) and CJ Allen (Georgia) as two of the top off-ball linebackers in the class, both projecting as mid-to-late first-round picks. That’s right in the Cowboys’ wheelhouse, especially with two first-round selections at their disposal. Jake Golday (Cincinnati) is another name to keep an eye on, but Styles and Allen feel like the most natural fits for what Dallas needs: rangy, instinctive playmakers who can cover ground and bring some teeth to the middle of the defense.
Arvell Reese, another standout from Ohio State, is Reid’s top overall prospect at the position group, though he’s being projected more as an edge rusher-so not quite the fit Dallas is looking for in the middle.
Why It Matters
The Cowboys aren’t far off from fielding a top-10 defense. The secondary has playmakers, the pass rush is disruptive, and the scheme is starting to click.
But without a reliable presence at linebacker, there’s a ceiling on how far this unit can go. The middle of the field is where games are won and lost-especially in today’s NFL, where tight ends, slot receivers, and versatile backs are attacking that space relentlessly.
Drafting a linebacker in the first round might not scream “positional value,” but sometimes need and opportunity align. This feels like one of those times.
If the Cowboys can hit on the right linebacker next April-someone who can lead the defense, clean up in the run game, and hold his own in coverage-they won’t just be patching a hole. They’ll be elevating the entire unit.
So don’t be surprised if Dallas uses one of those first-round picks to shore up the middle of the field. The defense is close. A playmaking linebacker could be the piece that finally brings it all together.