The Dallas Cowboys spent much of free agency collecting former first-round draft picks, offering a change of scenery for underachieving former top prospects.
One year removed from going “all-in” owner Jerry Jones and the Cowboys seem to be turning back the clock, hoping that a new coaching staff led by Brian Schottenheimer will reignite the potential of former top picks such as Solomon Thomas, Dante Fowler, Kenneth Murray, among others.
However, one of the Cowboys’ more unheralded offseason additions could wind up being a breakout star to watch this upcoming season.
Dallas Cowboys’ Top Free Agent Signing Revealed
Dallas Cowboys, Jack Sanborn
LB Jack Sanborn had an INT on Saturday afternoon.
Been Cooper put together a list of each team’s free agent signing with the most upside, including new Cowboys linebacker Jack Sanborn.
“PFF was high on Sanborn ahead of the 2022 NFL Draft,” Cooper writes for PFF. “Slotting him in at No. 200 on the big board. The Wisconsin product proceeded to go undrafted before landing with the Bears. Sanborn has long been a sturdy run defender, earning 70.0-plus PFF grades in that department in 2023 and 2024 after excelling there in college.
“The Cowboys may be able to offer Sanborn more snaps due to their depleted linebacker room, bolstering one of the NFL’s worst run-defense units from a season ago.”
Sanborn could be a key upgrade at a critical position of need in the Cowboys’ front seven, especially after logging 35 tackles and 1.5 sacks for the Chicago Bears last season.
Dallas Cowboys, Jack Sanborn
Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images
By adding Sanborn, the Cowboys are hoping for the kind of upside Zack Baun offered the Philadelphia Eagles last season, as a former unheralded starter who became a First-Team All-Pro selection in his first season in Philadelphia.
Sanborn, 6-foot-2 and 234 pounds, has produced 164 total tackles with 4.5 sacks, one fumble recovery, and one interception since signing withe Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2022.
Dallas believes it has a strong foundation at linebacker, with Sanborn in the middle between Murray and DeMarvion Overshown, but it is going to take all three living up to their potential and yet to be realized upside for them the free agency bets to pay off.
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