Inside linebacker has been one of the Cowboys’ most watchable roster spots all summer, and Dallas has so far chosen to let its own group sort things out. The front office passed on outside help early in training camp, even after trading for Dee Winters, and the results have kept the conversation alive.
Projected starters Winters and DeMarvion Overshown drew positive reviews, while rookie Jaishawn Barham put together a strong preseason that created real buzz around him as a possible starter. Shemar James, a rookie who showed some promise, rounds out the group. That still leaves Dallas with only four inside linebackers, and with injuries already a concern at the position, it’s no surprise the Cowboys are being mentioned as a team to watch once roster cuts create new opportunities.
That’s where Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox comes in. He listed Dallas as a potential landing spot for some of the best bargain free agent linebackers available ahead of Week 1.
Tyrel Dodson is one of the names on Knox’s list. He recently signed with the Carolina Panthers’ practice squad, though he can still be added to an active roster. Dallas has already been connected to Dodson before, and there’s at least a chance Carolina’s move is just the first step for him.
The biggest name in the group is Bobby Wagner. The 36-year-old linebacker was still piling up numbers for the Washington Commanders in 2025, finishing with 162 tackles and 4.5 sacks. Knox believes Wagner will be selective at this stage of his career, though he could be open to a cheaper deal if the fit is right.
"Linebacker Bobby Wagner is probably only interested in playing for a contender at this point in his career. However, the future Hall of Famer should be willing to join a playoff hopeful on a relatively budget-friendly deal," Knox wrote.
Elandon Roberts is another veteran worth watching. He posted 90 tackles for the Las Vegas Raiders in 2025, has two Super Bowl rings from his early years with the New England Patriots, and still profiles as a useful depth option even after failing to make the Pittsburgh Steelers’ roster.
Mohamoud Diabate also made Knox’s list. The 2023 undrafted free agent from Utah has played in 46 games with the Cleveland Browns, making 18 starts along the way. He’s totaled 127 tackles and eight tackles for loss, and PFF credited him with a 68.0 run defense grade last season.
Dallas may decide it’s comfortable with what it already has, but this is a spot to monitor. If one of those four inside linebackers gets hurt, the Cowboys could be right back in the market.
In Other News...
Cowboys Trades With Steelers Just Changed More Than One Roster Plan
The Cowboys offseason dealings with Pittsburgh did more than just shuffle a couple of names onto a different depth chart. By the time the dust settled, Dallas and the Steelers had completed two separate player swaps involving George Pickens and Broderick Jones, along with draft-pick movement that stretched out into future years and even included a 2027 sixth-rounder changing hands and then going back to where it started.
For Dallas, the broader takeaway is how one set of trades can ripple through multiple roster plans at once. It is not just about adding or moving a player in the moment, but about how the compensation package and pick movement shape both teams flexibility going forward, which is why the full net result matters just as much as the headline names involved. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Just Sent A Strong Message About Dak Prescott's Backup Plan
The Cowboys have made a notable change behind Dak Prescott, switching their backup quarterback plan by releasing Joe Milton III and elevating Sam Howell into the No. 2 role. The move comes not long after Prescott signed his four-year contract extension, reinforcing that Dallas is fully committed to him as the starter while leaving the depth chart behind him in a more unsettled state.
Milton had flashed during the preseason, which made his departure a little more surprising, but roster needs won out as the Cowboys cleared room for running back Emari Demercado. For now, Howell becomes the next man up if Prescott ever misses time, and it leaves Dallas without much of a clear long-term succession plan at the game's most important position. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Just Sent A Tough Message To Jaydon Blue And Phil Mafah
The Cowboys backfield picture took another turn as the team trimmed its roster and reshuffled its practice squad. Dallas waived Jaydon Blue and Joe Milton, with the expectation that Milton could return on the practice squad if he clears the next step, while the club also moved to add Israel Abanikanda as another running back option behind the active roster.
For Blue and Phil Mafah, the message was less about effort than about competition, at least in the view of offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer. Blue and Mafah were not retained on the practice squad after going unclaimed, and the Cowboys choice to keep moving at the position suggests the staff liked what it saw from other backs more in camp and the preseason. [Read more 🡒]