Dallas Cowboys Could Address Linebacker Crisis by Targeting Tremaine Edmunds in Potential Trade
FRISCO — The Dallas Cowboys enter the 2026 offseason facing uncomfortable defensive realities. While several positions require reinforcement, linebacker has emerged as one of the roster’s most pressing vulnerabilities.
At present, the most talented option on the depth chart is DeMarvion Overshown. Yet availability has become a recurring concern, as he has appeared in only 19 games across his first three NFL seasons.
Durability questions alone justify Dallas exploring alternatives. That urgency was evident at the NFL Scouting Combine, where the front office met with multiple high-profile linebacker prospects.
Among the names drawing interest were Ohio State’s Sonny Styles, Georgia’s CJ Allen, and Texas Tech’s Jacob Rodriguez. Each offers intriguing traits, but rookie development rarely guarantees immediate defensive stability.
That reality opens the door to veteran solutions.
While free agency remains an option, the trade market suddenly presents a compelling possibility. The Chicago Bears have granted two-time Pro Bowler Tremaine Edmunds permission to seek a trade.
The availability of Edmunds dramatically shifts the conversation.
Originally selected 16th overall in the 2018 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills, Edmunds entered the league at just 19 years old and quickly established himself as a foundational defender.
Across eight professional seasons, he has recorded at least 100 tackles each year. That consistency alone differentiates him from many linebackers whose production fluctuates annually.
In 2025, Edmunds totaled 112 tackles and four interceptions in only 13 games, showcasing both run support reliability and coverage awareness.
For his career, he has compiled 900 tackles, 43 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, 59 pass breakups, 14 interceptions, and four forced fumbles. Those numbers reflect impact in multiple defensive phases.
Financially, however, this would not be a modest acquisition.
Edmunds signed a four-year, 72 million dollar contract with Chicago in 2023 as part of the Bears’ defensive rebuild. His current cap figure sits around 15 million dollars annually.
For a Cowboys team carefully navigating cap commitments, that number requires serious evaluation.
Yet if Dallas is seeking defensive stability and leadership in the middle, Edmunds provides both.
At 6-foot-5 with elite range, he brings size that aligns well with modern hybrid defensive schemes. His ability to cover tight ends and drop into intermediate zones addresses a weakness that surfaced repeatedly last season.
Still, caution is understandable.
The Cowboys experimented with linebacker trades during the 2025 season, and neither yielded the desired outcome.
Kenneth Murray arrived via offseason trade from the Tennessee Titans. While he recorded 81 tackles and one sack, advanced metrics painted a troubling picture.
According to Pro Football Focus, Murray ranked last in overall grade and run-defense grade among 88 qualifying linebackers.
Midseason adjustments followed. Dallas acquired Logan Wilson at the trade deadline in hopes of stabilizing the unit.
That move also fell short.
Wilson appeared in only seven games and failed to unseat Murray in the starting lineup. He was released shortly thereafter, rendering the trade a short-lived experiment.
Those experiences understandably create hesitation within the front office.
Investing additional assets and salary into another linebacker could feel risky given recent misfires.
However, Edmunds represents a different tier of player.
Unlike Murray or Wilson, Edmunds brings Pro Bowl credentials, proven durability across multiple seasons, and production consistency that spans nearly a decade.
He is not a reclamation project.
He is a plug-and-play veteran capable of elevating the defense immediately.
The Cowboys’ defensive struggles last season were not isolated to linebacker, but the middle of the field often felt vulnerable against both the run and intermediate passing attacks.
An established presence could reduce schematic strain elsewhere.
Financial flexibility remains the critical factor.
Would Dallas restructure contracts to absorb Edmunds’ salary? Would Chicago be willing to retain a portion of the deal to facilitate trade compensation?
Those negotiations would determine feasibility.
Strategically, the Cowboys must weigh draft capital allocation against veteran certainty.
Selecting a linebacker in April offers long-term upside at a lower cost. Acquiring Edmunds delivers immediate impact at premium expense.
The organization’s competitive window also influences the decision.
If Dallas believes it is positioned to contend in 2026, prioritizing proven production over developmental projection becomes more logical.
Conversely, if the franchise seeks gradual roster recalibration, patience through the draft may align better with broader planning.
Ultimately, Tremaine Edmunds’ availability forces Dallas into a choice between comfort and ambition.
Recent trade disappointments may argue for restraint.
But a defense with glaring needs rarely improves without calculated aggression.
Whether the Cowboys pursue Edmunds will signal more than roster adjustment.
It will reveal how urgently they view their defensive shortcomings — and how bold they are willing to be in correcting them.
