Cowboys’ 2025 free agent profile: LB Eric Kendricks

The Dallas Cowboys have a protracted listing of unrestricted free brokers who will formally hit the open market in a little bit over two months. Of these, six or seven have been vital contributors in 2024, which means the Cowboys have some troublesome choices forward of them within the subsequent two months.

At this time, we’re looking at a participant coming off a strong season in his first yr as a Cowboy, linebacker Eric Kendricks.

Photograph by Cooper Neill/Getty Photographs

2024 Common Season Stats: 15G, 88 tackles, 48 Defensive Stops, 17 Missed Tackles, 3 Sacks, 3 FFM, 2 Interceptions

Yr Overview: Final offseason, the Dallas Cowboys made one vital transfer in free company. That transfer was signing veteran linebacker Erick Kendricks to a one-year, $3M deal. Kendricks, who was coming into his tenth season within the league, wished to reunite together with his outdated head coach, Mike Zimmer and crammed a gap at a linebacker spot that was considered one of Dallas’ most important drawback areas in 2023.

At age 32, the Cowboys weren’t anticipating Kendricks to be the man who was named a First-Group All-Professional again in 2019, however they did want him to deliver veteran management and constant efficiency to their linebacker room. All through the course of the 2024 season, Kendricks did simply that, placing collectively a really strong yr.

The veteran linebacker completed the season with 88 tackles and 48 defensive stops, each by far probably the most on the Cowboys’ protection. Kendricks’s 78.3 run protection grade, by way of Professional Soccer Focus, additionally led the workforce and was his fourth-best grade on this class throughout his 10-year NFL profession.

One factor Kendricks did accomplish in 2024 that he had not achieved lately was with the ability to take the soccer away from opposing offenses. His three compelled fumbles have been probably the most of his profession, and his two interceptions have been the identical quantity he had totaled prior to now three seasons.

Total, the Kendricks signing was a fantastic deal for each side, because the veteran was considered one of Dallas’ best free-agent acquisitions in latest historical past.

Free Company Outlook: The one-year, $3M deal Kendricks signed in free company final March was an opportunity to guess on himself and probably earn yet another multi-year contract if he was in a position to present he may nonetheless carry out at a decently excessive degree. The veteran did simply that in his time in Dallas, displaying he has some juice left within the tank and may nonetheless be a productive participant at his superior age.

Veterans Lavonte David and Bobby Wagner, two gamers who’re nonetheless contributing at a excessive degree at age 34, headline the 2025 linebacker free-agent group. Nonetheless, exterior of that duo, there aren’t many different gamers able to being above-average contributors to a protection. This could work in Kendricks’s favor and should even permit him to safe a multi-year deal from a workforce determined to improve their linebacker spot.

Even when Kendricks finally ends up signing one other one-year deal, his on-field efficiency this season ought to probably permit him to surpass his $3M AAV from his contract with Dallas.

Cowboys Verdict: A possible return to Dallas doesn’t appear out of the query for the linebacker. After DeMarvion Overshown went down with one other severe knee harm late within the season, Dallas’ depth on the linebacker spot for 2025 appears to be like spotty at finest.

2024 third-round decide Marist Liufau figures to play a big position in Dallas’ linebacker rotation in 2025, however they’ll want a minimum of one veteran to pair with the second-year professional. Like he did final season, Kendricks would match into this position properly, and bringing him again would permit Dallas to spend vital draft assets on different place teams.

Kendricks coming again to Dallas could hinge on one factor: Mike Zimmer’s future. If the 68-year-old defensive coordinator comes again to teach one other season, Kendricks’ probabilities to return will probably skyrocket. As issues stand as we speak, Zimmer continues to be undecided if he’ll retire or return to teaching for yet another yr. If he does make the choice to return, it looks as if virtually a assure he’ll be again because the DC for the Cowboys.

Zimmer and Kendricks go hand in hand, and the latter will more than likely comply with if the previous comes again. If Zimmer does cling it up, Kendricks may nonetheless be an choice for the Cowboys, however a brand new defensive coordinator would probably look to get youthful on the linebacker spot and should have a veteran of their very own liking they would like to usher in.

Prediction: Mike Zimmer returns as DC, and Eric Kendricks indicators a one-year, $5M take care of the Dallas Cowboys