Beyond Jordyn Brooks: 4 Linebackers the Cowboys Should Trade For

 

Move past the Jordyn Brooks hype — these four trade targets make tactical and financial sense for Dallas.

The Dallas Cowboys front office is quietly signaling a clear need: the defense needs a high-IQ, veteran linebacking presence to solidify the unit.

While the fan base remains fixated on a potential splash move for Jordyn Brooks, reality suggests otherwise. Acquiring a name that popular usually demands massive draft capital. History shows the Cowboys rarely pay market-peak prices in trade scenarios.

If Dallas wants a true “Green Dot” communicator who fits Defensive Coordinator Christian Parker’s scheme, they must expand their radar. Here are four alternative trade targets who fit the mold, elevate the defense, and make financial sense.

1. (MORE)

How the Dallas Cowboys Can Blueprint a Maxx Crosby Blockbuster Trade

 

Reading between the lines of Jerry Jones’ training camp comments reveals why a blockbuster deal for Maxx Crosby could still happen.

When Jerry Jones took the podium at the opening press conference of Dallas Cowboys training camp, most expected standard corporate soundbites. Instead, when reporter Jane Slater asked why the franchise walked away from a potential Maxx Crosby Cowboys trade earlier this offseason, Jerry dropped a bomb: “We didn’t walk away.”

That four-word admission reignited one of the most intriguing trade sagas of the NFL offseason. While Jerry was quick to tread carefully around tampering guidelines, where there is smoke, there is usually fire in Dallas.

Looking at historical precedent, trade structures, and defensive schemes, all signs point to the Cowboys keeping the door wide open for a star edge rusher. Here is why this rumor has real legs... (MORE)

Zach Lutmer Scouting Report: The Big Ten DB Turning NFL Heads 2027 NFL Draft

 

Why NFL scouts are quietly keeping a close eye on the Hawkeyes’ versatile defensive back.

Iowa’s secondary has quietly become one of college football’s most reliable NFL talent factories. While draft analysts spent recent seasons raving over top-tier prospects like Cooper DeJean, another versatile Hawkeye defender has been quietly building a resume that NFL scouts can no longer ignore: Zach Lutmer.

Standing at 6-foot-1 and 205 pounds, Lutmer enters his junior season offering the exact brand of defensive flexibility that modern NFL front offices crave. He isn’t just a...(MORE)

Why Dallas Cowboys Interest in Brendan Sorsby Changes Everything

Jerry Jones and the Front Office Are Quietly Preparing for Life After Dak Prescott

While headlines across the league are fixated on high-profile off-field noise, the Dallas Cowboys front office quietly signaled a major shift in how they plan to build for the future.

Reporting from ESPN’s Todd Archer revealed that when former Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby submitted his name for consideration for the NFL supplemental draft, the Cowboys held significant interest in acquiring him.

Though the NFL ultimately...(MORE)

Jadan Baugh Scouting Report: The SEC’s Most Dominant Running Back 2027 NFL Draft

 

Why the Florida running back has the size, speed, and traits to command top draft capital.

The NFL draft cycle never halts, and the hunt for elite backfield talent is always underway. While Kewan Lacy remains a high-caliber prospect, Florida’s Jadan Baugh is rapidly asserting himself as a potential “1B” — or even “1A” — in this draft class. Sitting at 6'1" and 228 pounds, Baugh combines brute force with surprisingly nimble footwork, presenting a complete skill set that NFL decision-makers covet.

If your franchise needs a foundational...(More).

The Fork in the Road: 10 “What-If” Scenarios That Will Define the Dallas Cowboys’ Season

 

Every NFL offseason is fueled by a familiar brand of optimism, but for the Dallas Cowboys, the margin between a championship run and total franchise restructuring is razor-thin. On the latest episode of The Frisco Report, we sat down to look past the hype and map out the critical “fork in the road” moments — the high-stakes, realistic scenarios that will dictate the trajectory of this season.

If Dallas wants to break through its historic glass ceiling, these are the burning questions the front office, coaching staff, and roster must answer.

1. The Brandon Aubrey Factor: What if the Slump is Real?

Brandon Aubrey put together a historic debut campaign, earning an extension that rightfully made him one of the league’s highest-paid specialists. However,...(More)

The Final Verdict: Cowboys 2023 Draft Class Re-Grade Three Years Later

Jerry Jones and Will McClay took massive swings in 2023. Three seasons later, the tape reveals a historical failure.

Evaluating an NFL draft class the morning after the picks are announced is a fool’s errand. Legendary coaches like Tom Landry and Bill Parcells always preached the same rule: you must give a draft class three full seasons before you truly know what you have.

Now that we are in 2026, that critical three-year window has officially closed for the Dallas Cowboys’ 2023 draft class. With the benefit of hindsight and three seasons of on-field evidence, it is time to execute an official Cowboys 2023 draft class re-grade. To put it bluntly, the results are catastrophic. Only two players from this entire haul remain on the current roster, forcing the front office to spend premium resources fixing past mistakes.

Here is the definitive, pick-by-pick evaluation of the 2023 Cowboys draft.

The Early Rounds: Premium Capital, Minimal Return

First Round: Mazi Smith (Defensive Tackle)

• Grade: F–

There is simply no way around it: Mazi Smith was an unmitigated bust. The front office completely whiffed on the evaluation here, and the pick set the interior defense back significantly. Dallas eventually cut bait, throwing Smith into a trade package for defensive tackle Quinnen Williams...(more)

My Way Too Early 2027 NFL Mock Draft: Top 32 First-Round Predictions

Arch Manning, Jeremiah Smith, and a phenomenal underclassman class set the stage for an elite draft cycle.

NFL Training camps are ramping up in just a few days, but the scouting cycle never stops. While it is incredibly early, the framework for the 2027 NFL Draft is already taking shape, and it looks like a truly phenomenal class. Unlike prior years where prospects needed time to develop, the elite tier of this group consists of genuine difference-makers who dominated from the moment they stepped onto their respective college campuses.

Predicting the first round this far out is a lesson in projecting traits, athleticism, and high-end NFL profiles. Furthermore, the modern Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) landscape introduces a massive variable. With lucrative college offers keeping elite underclassmen on campus longer, the NFL must prepare for an older prospect pool. Look no further than Garrett Nussmeier, who reportedly had a massive financial offer to stay at LSU, slipped to day three, and lost significant money in the process. Future underclassmen will weigh that risk heavily.

From legacy quarterbacks to generational wide receivers, here is how the first round of the 2027 NFL Draft could play out.

1. Arizona Cardinals: Arch Manning, QB (Texas) ... (More)

Anthony Smith Is the Most Underrated EDGE in the 2027 NFL Draft Profile

Packing an elite frame and massive production, Minnesota’s standout defensive lineman is forcing NFL scouts to take notice.

Draft season never actually ends. For front offices and talent evaluators, the search for impactful defensive line talent is a year-round obsession. As we look ahead to the upcoming college football season, one name is quietly flying under the radar but making a massive case to become a major riser: Minnesota defensive end Anthony Smith.

Thought by some to be a potential declaration last year, the Golden Gophers’ senior is primed to anchor the defensive front in 2026. If you are looking for a dominant force who can completely reshape an NFL defensive line, my Anthony Smith scouting report reveals a rare combination of physical traits and rock-solid production that forces its way into the day-two conversation — and potentially much higher.

The Physical Blueprint: An NFL Frame

Coaches and defensive coordinators dream about...(More)

Can Derrick Henry ACTUALLY Catch Emmitt Smith?

For over two decades, Emmitt Smith’s all-time NFL rushing record has felt like one of football’s truly unbreakable milestones. Pushing the historic benchmark to a staggering 18,355 yards, the legendary Dallas Cowboy set a bar so high that modern analytics and committee backfields seemed to guarantee it would never be touched.

But every now and then, a generational talent forces us to look back at the record books. Right now, a player flying completely under the radar is quietly putting together a historic case to challenge the throne: Derrick Henry.

With his recent production and a dominant run in Baltimore, “King Henry” has officially entered the outer stratosphere of the all-time greats. The big question is no longer just about his Hall of Fame jacket — it’s about whether he can actually catch Emmitt.

The Elite 13,000-Yard Club

Hitting the 13,000-yard mark used to mean a running back was within...(More)