Linebacker Issue: Still a Major Weakness

ConstantReboot

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Everyone can see it—linebacker is the weakest spot on this roster. That’s why this free agency has been so frustrating. This isn’t hindsight. The need was obvious, and the options were there if the front office actually wanted to fix it.

Instead, we get the same routine every year. Jerry Jones and Cap Boy talk about “going all in,” then disappear once free agency starts. At some point, how is anyone supposed to believe them? Their words never match their actions.

We’ve watched this pattern repeat itself. They needed a running back, Derrick Henry was available, and they passed—only to bring back a washed-up Zeke on a big deal. They let Amari Cooper walk and then spent years wasting picks and money trying to replace him, never finding a true WR2.

Now it’s linebacker, and somehow they’re making the exact same mistake again.

You can’t keep blaming the salary cap when the same issues show up every year. Jerry Jones and Cap Boy simply struggle to identify and acquire the right talent, whether through the draft or free agency. That’s the core job of a GM. Instead, there are too many yes-men, not enough real football voices, and Jerry still wants to be the smartest guy in the room. This is the result.

I honestly thought things might change after they hired Parker as DC. It felt like a step toward a modern defense. Instead, another free agency passes while we hear about “busting the budget,” and the linebacker hole is still wide open.

What makes it worse is the talent was right there:
Devin Bush
Quay Walker
Nakobe Dean
Leo Chenal
Bobby Wagner

They could’ve signed at least two and fixed a major problem. Instead, once again, we’re left hoping coaching, luck, and miracles can cover up a glaring weakness.

Same front office. Same excuses. Same results.
 
Honestly they have no choice BUT to use a first on a LB now.

Pray Sonny styles makes it to 12. Which is unlikely.

My bet is they plan on using 20 on an LB. Maybe CJ Allen.
 
Honestly they have no choice BUT to use a first on a LB now.

Pray Sonny styles makes it to 12. Which is unlikely.

My bet is they plan on using 20 on an LB. Maybe CJ Allen.
I think so too. C.J. Allen at 20, which I think is a bit of a reach.

I think they will use the No. 12 pick on Dulane. If not, they should trade down and get a corner like Chris Johnson or Colton Hood.

No Sonny Styles, Caleb Downs, or even Dillon Thieneman.
 
Everyone can see it—linebacker is the weakest spot on this roster. That’s why this free agency has been so frustrating. This isn’t hindsight. The need was obvious, and the options were there if the front office actually wanted to fix it.

Instead, we get the same routine every year. Jerry Jones and Cap Boy talk about “going all in,” then disappear once free agency starts. At some point, how is anyone supposed to believe them? Their words never match their actions.

We’ve watched this pattern repeat itself. They needed a running back, Derrick Henry was available, and they passed—only to bring back a washed-up Zeke on a big deal. They let Amari Cooper walk and then spent years wasting picks and money trying to replace him, never finding a true WR2.

Now it’s linebacker, and somehow they’re making the exact same mistake again.

You can’t keep blaming the salary cap when the same issues show up every year. Jerry Jones and Cap Boy simply struggle to identify and acquire the right talent, whether through the draft or free agency. That’s the core job of a GM. Instead, there are too many yes-men, not enough real football voices, and Jerry still wants to be the smartest guy in the room. This is the result.

I honestly thought things might change after they hired Parker as DC. It felt like a step toward a modern defense. Instead, another free agency passes while we hear about “busting the budget,” and the linebacker hole is still wide open.

What makes it worse is the talent was right there:
Devin Bush
Quay Walker
Nakobe Dean
Leo Chenal
Bobby Wagner

They could’ve signed at least two and fixed a major problem. Instead, once again, we’re left hoping coaching, luck, and miracles can cover up a glaring weakness.

Same front office. Same excuses. Same results.
It's simply not the same. Hogwash
 
Everyone can see it—linebacker is the weakest spot on this roster. That’s why this free agency has been so frustrating. This isn’t hindsight. The need was obvious, and the options were there if the front office actually wanted to fix it.

Instead, we get the same routine every year. Jerry Jones and Cap Boy talk about “going all in,” then disappear once free agency starts. At some point, how is anyone supposed to believe them? Their words never match their actions.

We’ve watched this pattern repeat itself. They needed a running back, Derrick Henry was available, and they passed—only to bring back a washed-up Zeke on a big deal. They let Amari Cooper walk and then spent years wasting picks and money trying to replace him, never finding a true WR2.

Now it’s linebacker, and somehow they’re making the exact same mistake again.

You can’t keep blaming the salary cap when the same issues show up every year. Jerry Jones and Cap Boy simply struggle to identify and acquire the right talent, whether through the draft or free agency. That’s the core job of a GM. Instead, there are too many yes-men, not enough real football voices, and Jerry still wants to be the smartest guy in the room. This is the result.

I honestly thought things might change after they hired Parker as DC. It felt like a step toward a modern defense. Instead, another free agency passes while we hear about “busting the budget,” and the linebacker hole is still wide open.

What makes it worse is the talent was right there:
Devin Bush
Quay Walker
Nakobe Dean
Leo Chenal
Bobby Wagner

They could’ve signed at least two and fixed a major problem. Instead, once again, we’re left hoping coaching, luck, and miracles can cover up a glaring weakness.

Same front office. Same excuses. Same results.
They swung and missed on Dean not too upset hes often injured.

They swung and missed on Quay Walker.

They've made efforts but just didn't close deal for what ever reason vastly better than the past where no effort made
 
Repeat what I said on another thread.

These goofs do the same thing every year.

Now we head into the draft telegraphing what we need LB and CB.
I’m actually thinking they’ll try to prove they’re so smart by not drafting a linebacker until Round 5 or 6, then selecting about three linebackers in the later rounds.
 
Honestly they have no choice BUT to use a first on a LB now.

Pray Sonny styles makes it to 12. Which is unlikely.

My bet is they plan on using 20 on an LB. Maybe CJ Allen.
theres always a choice.

We are still very early in FA and they have certainly improved the team but there is more work to do. Who knows, maybe there is a trade for a LB or a CB before the draft - maybe they move back in the draft and pick up more picks in the top 60 so that they can get 3 more playerse for the defense.

Who knows - but there is a hole that has to be filled - yet they have fewer holes now than they did Sunday and they are making progress to get to a better team - the problem is this really might need 2 years to do an overhaul which is frustrating.
 
They swung and missed on Dean not too upset hes often injured.

They swung and missed on Quay Walker.

They've made efforts but just didn't close deal for what ever reason vastly better than the past where no effort made
Sorry, but effort is not good enough, especially when you’ve been bragging all offseason about busting the budget. They should have just kept their mouths shut.
 
FWIW, The Cowboys needed like 8 guys on defense, they were definitely not getting them all within 3 days of free agency.

The guy they really wanted was Quay Walker but Raiders offered him 40M.
 
theres always a choice.

We are still very early in FA and they have certainly improved the team but there is more work to do. Who knows, maybe there is a trade for a LB or a CB before the draft - maybe they move back in the draft and pick up more picks in the top 60 so that they can get 3 more playerse for the defense.

Who knows - but there is a hole that has to be filled - yet they have fewer holes now than they did Sunday and they are making progress to get to a better team - the problem is this really might need 2 years to do an overhaul which is frustrating.


I disagree. We are not early in free agency. All the high level players at those spots are gone.

Trades are a possibility sure. But there are no LB’s left who are clear upgrades or good starters.

We are now in the tier 3 and tier 4 trash free agent players. Which is right where the jones’ love to be.
 
They swung and missed on Dean not too upset hes often injured.

They swung and missed on Quay Walker.

They've made efforts but just didn't close deal for what ever reason vastly better than the past where no effort made
They clearly never made a move for Devin Bush, who was arguably the best option available.

What makes it worse is that he ended up getting paid less than both Dean and Walker. With such an obvious need at linebacker, it’s hard to understand why they didn’t even explore signing the top player at the position.
 
We shall soon see if the Raiders still can sign both Walker and Dean.
I think Crosby will be traded at one point. They have the cap space for all of them in the mean time. Just the market for two first is probably dead now. Probably have to settle for the Q. williams return
 
They swung and missed on Dean not too upset hes often injured.

They swung and missed on Quay Walker.

They've made efforts but just didn't close deal for what ever reason vastly better than the past where no effort made
Wonder why they didn't at least counter the Raiders best offers...if it would've made any difference. However there are still guys available...like Greenlaw who is 28. My guess it that they want something in the salary range of Kenneth Murray (6 - 8 mil/yr). That's the only thing I can surmise. Or they might be up to something with Osa. Who knows. A bit lackluster so far but they've done more and earlier than the past. I knew Hendrickson was a long shot after they got Gary. Slater even reported it.
 
I think Crosby will be traded at one point. They have the cap space for all of them in the mean time. Just the market for two first is probably dead now. Probably have to settle for the Q. williams return
They are going to have to do something quick with Crosby to avoid the 30 million in guaranteed money that gets triggered in 48 hrs. (March 13th)...30 million dollar cap hit. But they can probably absorb it given their cap situation.
 
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