MOBILE, Ala. – The Dallas Cowboys weren’t just looking for defensive linemen the last three days during Senior Bowl practices.
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Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said the top priority in the draft is to improve their defense. And that’s not limited to the front four. The Cowboys can use more depth at cornerback and linebacker.
Their linebackers performed better than any other unit on defense in 2014, and that was without Sean Lee. But three of their top four linebackers – Rolando McClain, Bruce Carter and Justin Durant – are set to become unrestricted free agents.
“We have some contract work to do, but we had players really throughout that linebacker core show up positive last year,” Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said from the Senior Bowl. “I would say that most of our linebackers’ arrows are up as far as they played and we have to sit down and work that through as far as what we’ll do contractually there.
“We’re fortunate to have some of the options that we have, Sean Lee leading the pack, coming back.”
In his two seasons in Dallas, Durant has only managed to play in half the games because of injuries. Durant started the first six games in 2014 before suffering a torn bicep that ended his year.
Carter came on late, performing his best over the last month of the season. He finished the year with five interceptions, tied for third in the NFL and best among linebackers.
McClain battled a sore right knee throughout 2014 but gave the Cowboys defense a boost in his return to football. His physical presence brought life to a defense that finished last in the league in 2013. McClain recently visited noted orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews in Alabama to have his knee examined, according to a source, and he was told he won’t need surgery. McClain, who suffered concussions in each of the Cowboys’ two playoff games, has said he wants to return to Dallas.
“I look at anything that he dealt with injury-wise as a part of the rehabbing of getting back in the groove in the NFL,” Jerry Jones said. “I don’t mean to minimize what he played with, but still all of that has a chance to be better as he goes along and plays.”
Follow Brandon George on Twitter at @DMN_George.
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Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said the top priority in the draft is to improve their defense. And that’s not limited to the front four. The Cowboys can use more depth at cornerback and linebacker.
Their linebackers performed better than any other unit on defense in 2014, and that was without Sean Lee. But three of their top four linebackers – Rolando McClain, Bruce Carter and Justin Durant – are set to become unrestricted free agents.
“We have some contract work to do, but we had players really throughout that linebacker core show up positive last year,” Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said from the Senior Bowl. “I would say that most of our linebackers’ arrows are up as far as they played and we have to sit down and work that through as far as what we’ll do contractually there.
“We’re fortunate to have some of the options that we have, Sean Lee leading the pack, coming back.”
In his two seasons in Dallas, Durant has only managed to play in half the games because of injuries. Durant started the first six games in 2014 before suffering a torn bicep that ended his year.
Carter came on late, performing his best over the last month of the season. He finished the year with five interceptions, tied for third in the NFL and best among linebackers.
McClain battled a sore right knee throughout 2014 but gave the Cowboys defense a boost in his return to football. His physical presence brought life to a defense that finished last in the league in 2013. McClain recently visited noted orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews in Alabama to have his knee examined, according to a source, and he was told he won’t need surgery. McClain, who suffered concussions in each of the Cowboys’ two playoff games, has said he wants to return to Dallas.
“I look at anything that he dealt with injury-wise as a part of the rehabbing of getting back in the groove in the NFL,” Jerry Jones said. “I don’t mean to minimize what he played with, but still all of that has a chance to be better as he goes along and plays.”
Follow Brandon George on Twitter at @DMN_George.
