Dallas Cowboys aggressively early 53-man roster prediction for 2022

Linebacker (5):

Micah Parsons
Leighton Vander Esch
Jabril Cox
Luke Gifford
Devin Harper
(Damone Clark on IR)

Dallas goes thin at linebacker but that’s by design. In Dan Quinn’s scheme, they often go with just two players at the position on the field at a time. Those starters in 2022 will be Micah Parsons and Leighton Vander Esch — two former first-round picks.

Parsons recorded 13 sacks as a rookie, showing he could get after the quarterback in addition to being the best linebacker on the team. He was rewarded with the 2022 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award.

As for LVE, he returns on a one-year “prove-it” deal after the Cowboys declined to pick up his fifth-year option. It was questionable if he would return and it also wouldn’t be a shock for this to be his final season in Dallas.

One player who could be pushing him is Jabril Cox, who missed most of his rookie season due to an injury. He will be the primary third linebacker but could push for more time the more comfortable he gets in the NFL.

Luke Gifford also returns and has been getting more time in the base defense after being primarily a special teams ace. He will be joined by rookie Devin Harper and another rookie, Damone Clark, could become a contributor once healthy. As for now, Clark starts out on the IR.