The Cowboys have spent this offseason reshaping the defensive side of the ball, and for an undrafted rookie like Langston Patterson, that kind of churn creates at least a sliver of opportunity. It also creates a brutal path to a roster spot.
Patterson arrives in Dallas with a calling card that fits one of Jerry Jones’ favorite boxes: stopping the run. The former Vanderbilt team captain built his reputation as a tough, physical linebacker who can bring edge and production in that area, even if coverage is not his strength.
That run-defense profile is no small thing in Dallas. The Cowboys finished last season as a bottom-10 team against the run, which was actually better than where they landed against the pass.
Patterson’s game gives them something they need, and he showed it in a big way at Vanderbilt, where he posted a 90.1 Pro Football Focus grade against the run last season. Across the year, he had just one game with a negative grade in that category.
At 6-foot-1 and 235 pounds, Patterson is undersized, but he brings the kind of hard-nosed style that can still matter when the pads come on. Over three seasons as a starter for the Commodores, he piled up 221 tackles, 14.5 tackles for a loss, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, two pass breakups and a sack.
The problem is the numbers game in front of him. Dallas added seven linebackers this offseason, whether that means outside linebacker/pass rusher types or inside linebackers, and the room is crowded with established names.
Patterson’s competition includes Curtis Robinson, Justin Barron, Sam Williams and 2025 fifth-round pick James Houston. Tyrus Wheat and Charles Snowden are also in the mix.
If Patterson is going to stick, the clearest path appears to be beating out Barron and Robinson, both of whom have special teams experience. Barron played 30 special teams snaps last year, while Robinson filled a similar role in San Francisco.
That makes Patterson’s case pretty straightforward: he has to lean into what he does best and prove that his run-stopping ability can carry enough weight to earn him a place on the roster. It won’t be easy, but he does fit the kind of tough, physical mold this defense and special teams unit could use.
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