March 23, 2026, 12:56 p.m. CT
The Dallas Cowboys missed in free agency at the linebacker position. They tried to add Philadelphia Eagles Nakobe Dean and Green Bay Packers Quay Walker, both having ties to Christian Parker, but both decided to sign with the Las Vegas Raiders. DeMarvion Overshown has shown great promise, but hasn’t been able to stay healthy in his first three seasons.
This leaves Dallas needing at least one starting linebacker option, and they likely need a second prospect as a depth guy. If Overshown can’t stay healthy, Shemar James doesn’t take a second-season developmental jump, or they need a versatile weapon to deploy on the defense with those others, who will be there? The Cowboys may draft two of these top five off-ball linebacker options.
LB Anthony Hill Jr., Texas
Anthony Hill had great tape from 2024 that made him look like a first-round pick. Pro Football Focus (PFF) gave him grades of 85 as a run defender, 81 overall, and 70 as a pass rusher and in coverage. He might have played through injury in 2025, but regardless, his play dropped off.
His grades went down five to eight points across the board, and his stats went from 113 tackles, 16.5 for a loss, and eight sacks to 69 tackles, seven for a loss, and four sacks. If Dallas believes he can return to his prior form, Hill could be a perfect fit as a Zach Baun archetype in Parker’s defense who can cover, pass rush, and make plays against the run.
Expert NFL picks: Exclusive betting insights only at USA TODAY.LB Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech
In his last two seasons at Texas Tech, Jacob Rodriguez averaged 127.5 tackles, 10.5 for a loss, three sacks, 2.5 interceptions, and five forced fumbles. Rodriguez is a production machine. He squashed concerns about his frame and athletic ability at the combine by measuring in at 6-foot-1 and 231 pounds and posting a Relative Athletic Score(RAS) of 9.23.
His issues stem from the physicality of the game and coverage ability. If he is free to flow to the ball and make plays, Rodriguez will pick a defense apart, but he can struggle to fill a gap, take on a block, and bring a ball-carrier down. He is also a question mark in going backwards into zones or getting matched up in man coverage against athletic receivers or running backs.
LB CJ Allen, Georgia
CJ Allen is better than Rodriguez as a mental processor and physical player. He will be the guy if a team is looking for a defender to set up their defensive front, see the play developing first, take on a block in the gap, and make the tackle, then that’s Allen. He won’t run sideline to sideline bringing down ball-carriers like Rodriguez and the Ohio State kids, and that is why everyone has different rankings at this position.
Allen has fewer tackles, tackles for a loss, sacks, and forced fumbles than Rodriguez. Still, his physicality in the front seven and impact on the defense around him could lead to Allen being drafted ahead of Rodriguez. His near-91 run defense grade and almost-82 overall grade show how well Allen does his job on defense.
LB Arvell Reese, Ohio State
Arvell Reese will be seen as an edge by many analysts. Still, if he falls to Dallas, Parker likely uses him as a linebacker who can play edge in certain situations, which could maximize Reese’s talents on any team that drafts him. He is a tough evaluation as a pass rusher with limited tape in that area. He recorded only 266 of his 820 snaps at defensive line, and many of those were not as an edge rusher.
As a linebacker, he has traits that scouts would use to create a player in a video game, but he has developing to do in all areas, against the run and the pass. The tools are incredible and make him an undeniable prospect, but he will need to develop better instincts in zone coverage, when blitzing, and in playing the run. Sometime soon, he will be an impact playmaker on a defense in all areas of the game.
LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State
Sonny Styles is an absolute freak show who makes people stop caring about positional value, even in the top 10 of the draft. He had an insane combine. His 10 RAS score would have put him among the all-time best at multiple positions, but he will be a green-dot middle linebacker in the NFL.
A 6-foot-5, 244-pound man shouldn’t move as he does. His 4.48 time in the 40 confirmed his speed on tape. He gets all over the field and has a wingspan that allows him to tackle everything in front of him. Styles will rarely miss a tackle; his physicality is better than most.
He will also fill a gap and take on a block if that’s his role. Styles has good instincts, an elite frame, top-end athleticism, and on-field production. In his last two seasons at Ohio State, he accumulated 182 tackles, 17 for a loss, 7 sacks, 1 interception, and 8 pass defenses. He will be one of the top picks in this draft class.
You can find Mike Crum on Twitter @cdpiglet or on YouTube at Across the Cowboys podcast