Newcomer Dallas Cowboys linebacker Rashaan Evans was released from the team on Tuesday, following his arrest for possession of marijuana. The Cowboys linebacker corp is beginning to wear thin, following the losses of Leighton Vander-Esch, Devin Harper, and now Evans. Here’s how Dallas can remain steady at linebacker after losing another rotational defender.
Up in Smoke: Cowboys’ Defense Wears Thin Following the Arrest, Release of LB Rashaan Evans
Rashaan’s Fate
Rashaan Evans only totaled nine tackles in his nine games played as a Dallas Cowboy. He was a 2018 first-round pick with Tennessee, bounced to Atlanta and Philadelphia, and eventually landed with Dallas. While Evans has six seasons of NFL Football under his belt, sometimes pure availability isn’t enough.
Evans was taken into custody by Frisco police on Tuesday, Dec. 26 for possession of marijuana, 2-4 oz. The team website states that his release was to make room for offensive tackle Matt Waletzko returning from IR. The Cowboys and Rashaan Evans will likely split paths, but a reunion should remain plausible. It’s always better to leave the door open. Don’t count on Evans returning to the Cowboys within the 2023 season, barring a disastrous injury.
Who’s Next Up?
This is where things start to get a little bit complicated for Dallas. The Cowboys picked Rashaan Evans due to his size, his physicality, and his experience. Unfortunately, they found it, as Evans remains one of the better candidates for a free-agent linebacker. However, time won’t heal a roster wound fast enough for the playoffs. The Cowboys must decide if they want the defense to remain at Super Bowl caliber without Rashaan Evans.
A reunion with LB Anthony Barr would make the most sense for Dallas. Barr played relatively well as a Cowboy, and he knows Dan Quinn’s playbook. Barr was recently re-signed by the Vikings practice squad, but he remains a rotational piece. It wouldn’t take much to lure him out of Minnesota.
Another viable option was once on Dallas’ radar back in 2016. Linebacker Cory Littleton has played in a Super Bowl, and remained rather steady throughout his career. He currently is on New Orleans’ practice squad, his fourth team in four years. Cory went undrafted but visited with the Cowboys before signing with the Rams. Littleton is well deserving of a fresh start, and Dallas’ defensive firepower could turn back his clock.
The Long Game
Rashaan Evans has dug the Cowboys into a hole that can’t be fully filled for months. Namely, not until the 2024 NFL Draft.
While 2024’s Draft class isn’t packed with linebackers like sardines, there’s talent for Dallas to build around. The Cowboys will likely be picking from 21-32, so prospects like Dallas Turner are likely out of the discussion. The Cowboys need someone who can mirror Rashaan Evans’ play.
Texas A&M’s linebacker Edgerrin Cooper may be exactly what Dallas needs. Cooper ran a 4.52 40-yard dash, measuring in at 6’3″ and 230 lbs. Nearly an identical frame of Evans. Cooper’s speedy sideline-to-sideline running ability would likely elevate him to starting defender in Dallas quickly. Cooper is a quickly evolving ball of clay Dan Quinn should be excited to get his hands on.
Ohio State’s linebacker Tommy Eichenberg has been nothing short a heat-seeking missile for the Buckeyes. Eichenberg measures at 6’2, 239 Lbs. Once again, nearly identical to that of Rashaan Evans. Eichenberg would pair well with and mentor LB Demarvion Overshown as he returns from his ACL injury. Eichenberg’s steady production at OSU makes him one of Dallas’ best draft prospects.
Finally, Dallas should visit with Clemson’s LB Jeremiah Trotter. If the Cowboys want a Rashaan Evans clone, Trotter might be exactly that. Trotter is 6’0, 230 lbs., and was a finalist for 2023’s Butkus award. The nominations and stats speak for themselves. Dallas would be blessed to receive such a talented prospect in the later picks.
Main Photo: Gregory Fisher – USA Today Sports
