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The Cowboys linebackers may soon be the best in the NFL

By Reid Hanson

Nov 26, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys defensive end Jack Crawford (58) and middle linebacker Anthony Hitchens (59) and outside linebacker Sean Lee (50) and free safety J.J. Wilcox (27) tackle Carolina Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart (28) during the game on Thanksgiving at AT&T Stadium. The Panthers defeat the Cowboys 33-14. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 26, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys defensive end Jack Crawford (58) and middle linebacker Anthony Hitchens (59) and outside linebacker Sean Lee (50) and free safety J.J. Wilcox (27) tackle Carolina Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart (28) during the game on Thanksgiving at AT&T Stadium. The Panthers defeat the Cowboys 33-14. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Dallas Cowboys enter the season with quite possibly their best linebacking corps in years. Here’s a look at who’s about to break out in 2017…

For the Dallas Cowboys, the investments of yesterday may be paying off today. Years of drafting and developing promising young linebackers maybe soon paying for Dallas as they enter the 2017 season.

With equal parts reliable veteran and promising talent occupying the roster, the linebacker group may end up being one of the very best in the NFL. Thanks to mockdraftable.com I was able to add the spider graphs for the primary playmakers of the linebacker corps. As you’ll see, the Dallas Cowboys place  a premium on athleticism

Sean Lee (WILL)

Leading the unit is the incomparable Sean Lee. Lee, has managed to somewhat shed his injury prone label, staying healthy the last two seasons and earning Pro Bowl honors along the way. As the WILL in Rod Marinelli’s 43 defense, Lee is tasked with being the primary playmaker and tackling machine. It’s been a task he’s thrived in.

Anthony Hitchens (MIKE)

The stars may finally be aligning for fourth year veteran Anthony Hitchens. Long considered the most versatile of the bunch, Hitchens has made a living filling in at all three LB spots. But last year in Rolando McClain’s absence, he carved out a role as the starting MIKE. And this year it appears he has no intentions of giving it up.

Hitch is more comfortable now than he’s ever been before. The dedicated time he’s spent in the middle is becoming apparent and his coverage skills seem to have taken the next step.

Damien Wilson (SAM)

The least glamorous of the linebacker spots is the strong side. The odd man out in the nickel defense, the SAM is regulated to part-time duty these days. But this player has been flashing all over the field this offseason and is determined to make the most out of his limited snaps.

Damien Wilson, a former fourth round pick in the 2014 draft, has just reached his maturation date. The 24-year-old has the athleticism to play on the weakside but the ferocity to play on the strong. He’s an explosive sideline-to-sideline player that began developing into a reliable force last season. It doesn’t hurt either that he’s a pretty good natural pass-rusher when called upon to blitz.

Kyle Wilber (Special Teams)

Unlike Wilson and Hitchens, Kyle Wilber doesn’t bring a lot of versatility to his game. But the 28-year-old six year vet is reliable depth at SAM and an absolute dynamo on special teams. Originally cast as a DE/SAM flex player, Wilber has struggled shedding blocks at the line making him an unattractive DE and blitzing option.

As you can see by his spider graph below, Wilber doesn’t exactly fit the mold of what the Cowboys typically target in measurables. But we don’t need a graph to tell us Wilber is built differently and it’s that difference that makes him so valuable to the defensive unit and special teams.

Mark Nzeocha (Outside Depth)

Mark Nzeocha is a player Cowboys Nation has been eagerly waiting for since the day he was drafted. A project player from the start, Nzeocha was drafted for his superior athleticism and immense potential. Opportunities have been limited and Nzeocha has yet to make an impact.

Now in year three, Nzeocha is expected to make a big jump in his progression. With the capabilities to play either spot outside, he provides an excellent insurance policy should something happen to either Lee or Hitchens

Jaylon Smith (Wild Card)

By now everyone knows the story of Jaylon Smith. He’s a top-5 draft pick that fell to the second round because of a catastrophic knee injury. He may bounce back, he may not. He’s a true wild card in this whole scenario. The good news is, he’s not being relied upon for anything.

Anthony Hitchens has firmly locked down the MIKE and I’d be shocked if anything Jaylon did this summer changed that. And that’s good news. Jaylon is progressing but right now Hitch is head and shoulders above him on the depth chart.

The Breakdown

The Dallas Cowboys may have the best linebacking corps they’ve had in years and that’s without Jaylon Smith even expected to start in 2017. Everything he provides is just gravy.

Next: What we learned about Jaylon Smith and the MIKE position

More from Dallas Cowboys

This is a matter of highly athletic players hitting their mental peak and athletic prime at the same time. Sean Lee may technically be on the down-slope but his down-slope looks better than every linebacker in the NFL not named Luke Kuechly. The Dallas Cowboys linebacker group is on the verge of breaking out in a big way.

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