Predicting Dallas Cowboys 2020 depth chart: Linebackers

By Randy Gurzi | Jul 20, 2020

DETROIT, MI - NOVEMBER 17: Jaylon Smith #54 and Leighton Vander Esch #55 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrate a third down stop during the second quarter of the game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on November 17, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images) /

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Dallas Cowboys, Joe Thomas (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images) /

Dallas Cowboys linebackers: The Reserves

Joe Thomas

The Cowboys ran a lot of two-linebacker sets in 2019 and will probably do the same this season. This isn’t something that’s unique to them as many NFL teams use three-wide receiver sets often, which forces teams to use more defensive backs. For that reason, Sean Lee seems to operate as a mix between a starter and the top reserve. However, with him being the No. 3 guy, that means we will consider him a starter which makes Joe Thomas the primary reserve linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys.

Thomas was originally signed as an undrafted free agent out of South Carolina State by the Green Bay Packers in 2014. He joined the Cowboys in 2015 after spending his rookie season on the Packers practice squad. His first sting in Dallas lasted two weeks and he was back in Green Bay through 2017.

He re-joined Dallas in 2018 and since then has been a special teams ace. He had 33 tackles in 2019 and now has 157 in his career. Like Lee, he can play all the linebacker positions and gives them a very capable fourth option to turn to.

Justin March

Entering his fourth season with Dallas, Justin March has just 41 career tackles, only 16 of which came with the Cowboys. He’s played in 39 games over the past three seasons, primarily serving as a special teams player. He’s great in that role and will again occupy that in 2020 — barring someone younger showing him up.

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