It's no secret that the Dallas Cowboys had a horrendous defense in 2025.
The team was dead-last in opponent points per game, 30th in opponent yards per game, and dead-last in opponent passing yards per game. As a result, the team finished with a disappointing 7-9-1 record and missed the playoffs despite having a top offense.
The team parted ways with defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus after just one season, and it seems obvious that the team will invest in the defense heavily this offseason.
ESPN's Aaron Schatz recently identified one free agent signing each team could make. For the Cowboys, Schatz predicted the team will sign linebacker Devin Lloyd.
Lloyd has spent his entire four-season career with the Jacksonville Jaguars after being drafted in the first round in 2022. Lloyd earned his first Pro Bowl selection after an impressive 2025 season leading the Jaguars' defense.
Regarding Lloyd's fit in Dallas, Schatz offered the following:
The Cowboys had one of the worst defenses in NFL history in 2025, according to my DVOA metric, and they are in desperate need of playmakers. So why not bring in Lloyd? He is a solid starting linebacker who had five interceptions and 1.5 sacks last season.
As Schatz mentioned, the Cowboys sported a historically bad defense in 2025, and much of that can be attributed to poor linebacker play.
One starting linebacker, Shemar James, had a pitiful 39.9 Pro Football Focus grade, which ranked 84th out of 88 linebackers. The other starter, Kenneth Murray Jr., was even worse. Murray earned a 38.8 grade, which ranked 86th out of 88 linebackers.
Lloyd, meanwhile, earned an elite 89.1 grade, which ranked 3rd in the entire league. The Utah product racked up 81 tackles, six tackles for loss, seven pass deflections, and five interceptions.
Lloyd would fit in perfectly in Dallas. The linebacker has the speed to cover from sideline to sideline and also has enough moves to help out in the pass rush occasionally. In run defense, Lloyd is a sure tackle and isn't afraid of contact.
Spotrac projects Lloyd to earn a three-year deal worth over $20 million annually.
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