Dallas Cowboys signed an undrafted free agent who has a special recipe to make the team's 53-man roster ahead of 2025 NFL season

 When it comes to making an NFL roster as an undrafted free agent, it's usually not enough to impress a position coach. Oftentimes, it comes down to the special teams coordinator. 

For Dallas Cowboys linebacker Justin Barron, that could come very easy. That's because at Syracuse, Barron played 949 snaps, which could be the special recipe to help him build a case to make the 53-man roster, as The Athletic's Dane Brugler points out in his draft guide: 

Barron is an impressive size-speed athlete, and there are zero concerns about his competitive toughness or football-playing temperament. Though his burst to close jumps off the tape, his coverage movements are inconsistent and missed tackles made for a nagging issue on his 2024 tape. Overall, Barron needs better consistency to find a full-time role on defense, but he can provide versatile depth. His special teams experience (949 snaps in college) will pay immediate dividends.

Barron's athleticism showed in college through his versatility: He arrived as a three-star wide receiver before moving to safety and later playing just about every position on the Orange's defense. 

The Cowboys seem to really like that, considering they guaranteed Barron $234,000, the second-highest on the team, only behind another Syracuse defender, DB Alijah Clark.

With the right coaching, Barron could earn a place at linebacker at the NFL level and landing with Matt Eberflus—known for his ability to develop the position—he's in a good spot. But if he's to make an impact in 2025 and earn a roster spot, it will be Cowboys special teams coordinator Nick Sorensen who he'll have to impress. 

The good news for Barron is it's Sorensen's first year on the job, which means there will be no favorites come training camp. Additionally, with DeMarvion Overshown expected to start the season on Injured Reserve, cracking the linebacker room will be made a little bit easier. 

Below is the full linebacker room going into the thick of the offseason:

• DeMarvion Overshown
• Marist Liufau
• Jack Sanborn
• Kenneth Murray
• Damone Clark
• Buddy Johnson
• Brock Mogensen
• Darius Harris
• Shemar James (fifth-round draft pick)
• Justin Barron**