It will be in the best interest of the Dallas Cowboys to look at linebackers every time the team picks this draft weekend. The Cowboys failed to add a linebacker to the team in free agency and will be desperate to figure out who will man the middle of their defense in 2026.
As of now, there is a lot of pressure on DeMarvion Overshown to stay healthy and lead the linebacker room, but there is minimal help behind him with just Shemar James and Justin Barron as the other interior linebackers on the roster.
Kaleb Elarms-Orr Fits Perfect at Pick 112 for Cowboys
The Horned Frogs had a tackling machine in 2025 with Kaleb Elarms-Orr in the middle of their defense. He had 130 tackles, 11 TFLs, and four sacks in his only season as a starter for TCU. The Athletic's draft guru, Dane Bruglar, noted that Elarms-Orr led the Big-12 in tackles and was one of the nine players in FBS to have 130+ tackles last season. Strikingly, beating out Jacob Rodriguez in tackles, who is considered a top-rated linebacker in this class for his hitting ability.
Kaleb plays with a great burst and is at his best when he is able to run free and attack the ball. Teams will be enamored with his Combine workout. Clocking the 2nd quickest 40-yard dash among linebackers at 4.47 seconds and the 4th highest broad jump at 10'4". NFL Next Gen Stats ranked him 3rd in athletic testing for linebackers with an 86 grade.
The quick linebacker can move laterally and chase the ball carrier. He uses his speed to win frequently and bursts through the gaps of the offensive line on the blitz. Catching up to the NFL's game speed will not be a problem for him.
Teams will see an issue with his instincts and limited play time. Elarms-Orr started his collegiate career at the University of California, and in his 2nd season, he became the starting inside linebacker for the Golden Bears. He led the team in tackles that 2023 season but would transfer to TCU that offseason, where he did not win the starting job at first.
But when he took over the starting job, he led his team in tackles. It just took him two seasons to get to that point for both teams. The lack of being in a consistent starting role has impaired his instincts at times, causing him to play based on reactions rather than reading the presnap cues. While he plays fast, he will waste steps by not getting an accurate reaction on the play, and this is something he needs to develop.
The Fit with Dallas
There is reported interest from the Cowboys in Elarms-Orr, which started as early as the NFL Combine. Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported that Elarms-Orr had a formal meeting with the Cowboys. He mentioned that Elarms-Orr was doing work on the whiteboard, meaning he was likely tested on defensive coverages and gap fits.
He also mentioned in an interview with NFL Draft on Sports Illustrated, he met with the Dallas Cowboys in Frisco at their facility, which hosts the Big-12 Pro Day in the Ford Center, while also having a private visit inside The Star.
Overall, Elarms-Orr is far from the most complete linebacker in the 2026 draft class and should not serve as the lone inside linebacker for the Cowboys. Instead, he would act as a great additional tool the Cowboys could develop and win with in the future.
Currently, he is ranked as player 118 on the 2026 Consensus Big Board, and with the Cowboys picking at 112 in the 4th round, this could be a great athlete to steal in this draft at a position of desperate need. Looking back in a few years, it will be painful to see the Dallas Cowboys pass on Elarms-Orr if they don't make the selection this draft cycle.
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