Cowboys Target $60M All-Pro Linebacker To Fix NFL’s Worst Defense—59 Touchdowns In 2025

Dallas surrendered 30.1 points per game in 2025, the worst mark in the NFL. Opponents scored 59 total touchdowns against the Cowboys, exposing a defense that failed to generate consistent pressure or create turnovers. The unit left the offense in impossible positions week after week, and the Cowboys missed the playoffs for a second consecutive season, falling far short of expectations. The defensive collapse was so severe that advanced metrics painted an even bleaker picture, with ESPN’s DVOA rating the unit among the worst in modern NFL history.

Dallas Fired Matt Eberflus After Just One Season

The Cowboys held defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus accountable for the disastrous 2025 performance, firing him on January 6, 2026. Eberflus had joined Dallas with expectations of stabilizing the defense after his tenure as head coach of the Chicago Bears. Instead, the unit regressed significantly under his leadership. His scheme failed to maximize the talent on the roster, and the Cowboys ranked at or near the bottom in nearly every major defensive category throughout the season.

Christian Parker Brings a New Defensive Vision

After interviewing multiple candidates, Dallas hired Christian Parker as its new defensive coordinator on January 22. Parker joins the Cowboys from the Philadelphia Eagles, where he built an impressive reputation as a defensive mind. CBS Sports described Parker as “the opposite of Matt Eberflus,” signaling a dramatic philosophical shift for the unit. While the coaching upgrade provides hope, the Cowboys still need significant talent additions to compete defensively in 2026.

Jerry Jones Pledges to Spend Big in Free Agency

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones delivered a clear message at the NFL Scouting Combine about his plans for the offseason. “I would bet that we will spend more money in free agency than we have,” Jones said, via ESPN’s Todd Archer. “The only way to push forward is for me to go borrow some of my future. Expect me to go borrow some of my future, OK?” Jones specifically identified the defense as the area where he intends to increase spending most aggressively this offseason.

ESPN’s Aaron Schatz Projects Lloyd to Dallas

ESPN analyst Aaron Schatz identified Lloyd as the ideal free agent signing for the Cowboys in his league-wide offseason predictions. “The Cowboys had one of the worst defenses in NFL history in 2025, according to my DVOA metric, and they are in desperate need of playmakers. So why not bring in Lloyd? He is a solid starting linebacker who had five interceptions and 1.5 sacks last season,” Schatz wrote. The prediction aligns with Dallas’s stated goal of adding defensive talent through free agency.

Lloyd’s Breakout 2025 Season Made Him a Star

Lloyd emerged as one of the NFL’s premier defenders during his fourth professional season. He recorded 81 tackles, five interceptions, and 1.5 sacks across 15 regular-season appearances for the Jaguars. His five interceptions tied for second in the NFL. Lloyd also earned AFC Defensive Player of the Month honors in September after recording three interceptions through the season’s first four weeks. PFF graded him as one of the top three linebackers in football, recognizing his effectiveness against both the run and the pass.

The 99-Yard Pick-Six That Defined His Season

Lloyd’s signature moment came in Week 5 on Monday Night Football against the Kansas City Chiefs. With the game tied at 14 and the Chiefs driving inside the Jacksonville 10-yard line, Lloyd intercepted Mahomes and returned it 99 yards for a touchdown. The play was the longest interception return in Jaguars franchise history. According to Next Gen Stats, the pick-six swung Jacksonville’s win probability from 28% to 70%, fueling a 31-28 Jaguars victory.

A Proven Playmaker With an Impressive Resume

The Jaguars selected Lloyd 27th overall in the 2022 NFL Draft out of Utah. The 6-foot-3, 237-pound linebacker recorded more than 100 tackles in each of his first three NFL seasons, posting 115, 127, and 113 respectively. He enters free agency with 436 career tackles, 3.5 sacks, 26 pass deflections, and nine interceptions. His combination of run-stopping ability and ball-hawking instincts makes him one of the most complete linebackers available on the open market.

Cap Constraints Could Complicate a Deal

Spotrac projects Lloyd will command a three-year, $60.4 million contract, averaging $20.1 million per season. That price tag presents a challenge for Dallas, which entered the offseason well over the $301.2 million salary cap. Jones plans to restructure contracts for Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, Tyler Smith, and others to create room. “I think that would be the area that you would see me bust the budget,” Jones said of defensive spending. Signing Lloyd would require the Cowboys to prioritize him as a top free agent target this offseason.

Sources
“Cowboys fire defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus after one season.” CBS News, Jan 2026.
“Cowboys new DC Christian Parker is opposite of Matt Eberflus.” CBS Sports, Feb 2026.
“Jerry Jones vows to spend in NFL free agency with Cowboys’ Super Bowl drought now at 30 years.” New York Post, Feb 2026.
“ESPN Predicts Cowboys Sign Jaguars’ Devin Lloyd in NFL Free Agency.” ESPN/Aaron Schatz, Mar 2026.
“Devin Lloyd Career Stats.” ESPN, 2025 season.
“2026 NFL Free Agency: Devin Lloyd’s Contract Value and Best Fits.” Spotrac/Yahoo Sports, Mar 2026.
“Jaguars LB Devin Lloyd and LS Ross Matiscik Named to the 2025 Associated Press NFL All-Pro Team.” Jaguars.com, Jan 2026.