Blogging The Boys Feb 24, 2021
Three 2018 Dallas Cowboys draft picks earned increases to their 2021 base salaries
Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports A few Cowboys put some extra cash in their pockets. One of the underrated draft classes for the Dallas Cowboys in recent memory happened to be found from within their own building. The 2018 NFL Draft was held at AT&T Stadium and in it the Cowboys found what we all thought would be a star linebacker of the future in Leighton Vander Esch with their first-round pick. Ultimately the jury is still out on LVE, but picks that came after him deserve some pomp and circumstance, too. Dallas took Connor Williams and Michael Gallup (don’t forget...
Blogging The Boys Feb 23, 2021
The 2021 NFL Draft will provide plenty of quality linebacker options on day three for the Cowboys
Photo by Jacob Noger/Collegiate Images/ If you’re the Cowboys, don’t draft a linebacker early. When taking a look at the needs for the Dallas Cowboys in 2021, cornerback, defensive tackle, safety, and linebacker are four of the biggest needs on the team. As you can tell, the Cowboys need a lot of help on defense. It should burn that linebacker is such a big need just two years after giving Jaylon Smith a nice payday, and spending a premium first-round pick on Leighton Vander Esch in 2018. But the truth is, it is, and the Cowboys would be wise to use the 2021 NFL...
Blogging The Boys Feb 19, 2021
Why the Cowboys’ plans at linebacker will help dictate their entire offseason
Photo by Tom Pennington/ Whether it’s no change or a big change, the Cowboys’ plans at linebacker will have a ripple effect. Linebacker is one of the Dallas Cowboys’ most uncertain position groups. Currently, the Cowboys have four linebackers on their roster - Leighton Vander Esch, Jaylon Smith, Francis Bernard and Luke Gifford. There are a lot of question marks among that group of players. There’s a chance the Cowboys could bring back one of their three linebacker free agents. Veterans Sean Lee, Joe Thomas, and Justin March will hit the open market, but...
Blogging The Boys Feb 16, 2021
It’s time that the Cowboys finally take the defensive tackle position seriously
Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via It's hard for linebackers to get running backs on the ground without an inside presence. The Dallas Cowboys linebackers have taken a lot of flack recently for not being able to consistently get to the running back and make the tackle. Leighton Vander Esch, Jaylon Smith, and company weren't always in the best positions to make plays but they were also getting plenty of traffic from opposing offensive lines. The main reason for the latter has been the lack of a presence on the interior of the defensive line for the Cowboys. That...
Blogging The Boys Feb 15, 2021
Cowboys news: One potential defensive player would split the fanbase if chosen at #10
Photo by Benjamin Solomon/ Happy Monday from the Star! What if LB Micah Parsons is the Cowboys first-round pick? - Steven Mullenax, The Landry Hat Parsons has been linked to Sean Lee for more reasons than their shared Penn State lineage. Throw in health concerns surrounding former first-rounder Leighton Vander Esch, who has missed a total of 13 games over the last two seasons, and suddenly the Cowboys’ once highly-touted linebacker corps could be in need of an injection of talent. That’s where Penn State’s Micah Parsons fits in. The young linebacker could very...
Blogging The Boys Feb 5, 2021
A position switch could be the key to reviving Jaylon Smith’s game for the Cowboys
Photo by Elsa/ The move in 2020 didn’t seem to work out for Jaylon Smith. Last year, there was excitement among the Cowboys faithful when it was revealed that Jaylon Smith would move to the WILL linebacker and Leighton Vander Esch would take over as the MIKE. The thought was that Smith is best when attacking the line of scrimmage and that he could be deployed as a fifth pass-rusher on certain play-calls. His ability to rush the passer had shown itself previously. It seemed like this move would be playing to his skill-set. Fast forward to now and we know that Smith’s...
