The Dallas Cowboys top-5 needs in the 2022 NFL Draft

Dallas Cowboys Draft Need No.2

Linebacker

As much as it pains me to say it, linebacker is a major need for the Dallas Cowboys this draft cycle. We needn’t dwell on positional value aspect of the linebacker position because it will surly spin into a Micah Parsons argument.

But I do want to point out traditional off ball linebackers (something Parsons is NOT) are often inconsistent and replaceable parts (see also Leighton Vander Esch and Jaylon Smith draft picks) and therefore not very valuable. And it just so happens a traditional off-ball linebacker is exactly what the Cowboys need this offseason.

Dallas Cowboys LB free agents: LVE and Keanu Neal

Both of last year’s starters are free agents and neither are really worth retaining. Dallas can keep Luke Gifford and Francis Bernard if they want to, but nobody considers them to be optimal starting options. Jabril Cox projects as a starting LB next season but that’s about all the help Micah Parsons is going to get.

Dallas isn’t just in the market for one starting LB this draft, but two viable options.

The Dallas Cowboys would like the option of moving Parsons around again next season but they need players to fill his vacancy at LB to do it. That means Dallas isn’t just in the market for one starting LB this draft, but two viable options.

Dallas doesn’t need to use a Day 1 pick on the position, by any means, but they do need to use a top-100 pick or two to fill the immediate need.