> The Dallas Cowboys could and should continue to load up on defense. That side of the ball significantly disappointed in 2025, particularly with the team’s offense performing so well.
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> Earlier, the organization added David Bailey to provide last year’s anemic pass-rush. Now, it targets the second line of defense, with the versatile and athletic linebacker in Cincinnati’s Jake Golday, who might just remind Cowboys faithful of a former Dallas defender.
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> “The Cowboys surrendered a league-high 30.1 points per game last season to completely justified double-dipping with defensive players in this first-round projection,” Holder said. “Linebacker was a significant sore spot last year. While Georgia’s CJ Allen is graded higher on B/R’s board, Golday has better physical traits in the makings of becoming and every-down linebacker.
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> “It wouldn’t be surprising if the owner Jerry Jones sees a lot of Leighton Vander Esch, who Jones chose with the 19th pick in 2018, in the Cincinnati product.”