11:34am: Although the Cowboys worked out four linebackers today, they are expected to go with the highest-profile name among that contingent. Rashaan Evans is expected to sign with the team, Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News reports. This would be a fourth NFL home for Evans, though his third (Philadelphia) did not produce any game action. The former Titans and Falcons starter, however, figures to be part of the Cowboys’ 53-man roster — via direct signing or the practice squad promotion route — soon. Per Archer, Evans will initially land on the P-squad. Though, it should be expected he will vault to the 53-man roster in the near future.
8:53am: Leighton Vander Esch is expected to land on IR, opening the door to questions at the Cowboys’ linebacker position. Although 2022 stopgap Anthony Barr remains unattached, the Cowboys are looking in another direction in the aftermath of Vander Esch’s latest neck issue.
Rashaan Evans will meet with the team Wednesday, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler reports. Evans spent time with the Eagles recently but requested a release from the defending NFC champions’ practice squad, eyeing other opportunities. This would qualify as a high-profile chance, should the Cowboys view the former first-rounder as a fit.
While Evans has a Falcons past, he did not overlap with Dan Quinn in Atlanta. The Falcons used Evans as a one-and-done starter in 2022, with ex-Titans OC Arthur Smith bringing in the former Tennessee top pick. Evans started throughout the ’22 season and loomed as an option to stay in Atlanta, but nothing materialized. Evans then waited for several months for an opportunity. Evans caught on with the Eagles’ P-squad shortly after the team lost Nakobe Dean in Week 1, but he was gone days later, aiming for a chance to sign elsewhere. Teams can poach players off P-squads, but the player’s options narrow in those transactions.
Evans going this long without another opportunity is a bit strange. The Alabama product led the Falcons in tackles — by a substantial margin — last season, totaling 159. That number doubled as a runaway career-high mark, as Evans only topped 100 tackles in one Titans season. Tennessee did not pick up Evans’ fifth-year option in 2021, leading to his 2022 defection. The Falcons landed Evans on a one-year, $1.75MM contract.
Pro Football Focus rated Evans just outside the top 50 among off-ball linebackers last season. A buyer’s market formed at the position, however, limited young veterans’ options. Many starter-caliber linebackers fetched deals worth between $5-$7MM per year. Vander Esch landed just south of this bracket, scoring a two-year accord worth $8MM. Evans, 27, was among those on the outside looking in. But the six-year Cowboys starter’s injury could lead to a shot with a third team.
Vander Esch, 27, is expected to miss at least a month with a neck strain. Considering the neck trouble the 2018 first-round pick has battled in the past, it would not surprise to see his recovery timetable lengthened. Vander Esch, who went off the ’18 draft board three spots before Evans, has seen neck injuries limit his earning potential. The Boise State product has missed time with neck trouble in multiple seasons, with a spinal stenosis issue leading to lower-level second and third contracts with the Cowboys. While Dallas kept Vander Esch in its plans, a lucrative extension path never formed despite a dominant rookie season.
In not re-signing Barr, the Cowboys went with second-year player Damone Clark alongside Vander Esch. Quinn said the prospect of Micah Parsons playing more at linebacker is in play, but considering the Defensive Player of the Year candidate’s value as an edge rusher, that might ultimately be deemed counterproductive. Dallas also lost third-round rookie linebacker Demarvion Overshown to an ACL tear this summer. The team has used P-squad elevation Malik Jefferson as a backup option this season; he figures to factor in more prominently following Vander Esch’s injury.
The Cowboys have also brought in Tanner Vallejo, Brandon Smith and Jordan Evans for this linebacker workout, per the Dallas Morning News’ Calvin Watkins and ESPN’s Todd Archer. Jordan Evans started nine games for the Bengals from 2017-18; he has not played in a regular-season game since 2021 but saw action for the XFL’s Seattle Sea Dragons. A six-year veteran who started seven Cardinals games from 2021-22, Vallejo did not make the Vikings’ 53-man roster out of camp. The Panthers drafted Smith in the 2022 fourth round; he played in 12 games as a rookie.
They could certainly do worse. Evans actually played better in Tennessee, in my opinion, than in Atlanta. He wasn’t used as much by the Titans as in Atlanta, though, because the Titans mixed him in with the speedy Jayon Brown inside. Evans was more of a run stuffer in that role, but he played well inside. The Falcons had an overall bad group at the position then, and Evans is not the guy to carry a group on his own, or cover wide gaps in space. He is, however, a good tackler (it was) who is in usually in good position. I don’t know if his skillset is 1:1 with Vander-Esch, but it doesn’t hurt to add an experienced option who has played well in the past.
Wasn’t vander esch pretty good? Like if this guy was remotely near VE’s level wouldn’t he have been picked up by one of 32 teams already not coming in off the FA wire to stop the bleeding for an unimpressive cowboys team
You’re right. I’m just saying that this option is not as bad as others given the circumstances, as it looks now. As to your question about Vander Esch, I think so, yes. Vander Esch’s problem has always more about availability than effectiveness (man, that early promising tandem of Jaylon Smith and Leighton Vander Esch really didn’t work out, did it? Could you imagine adding Parsons to that group, had they stayed healthy?) And you’re right, the Cowboys wouldn’t have added Evans if not for the injury. But usually, when injuries happen, the lot that you’re forced to consider is either far removed from quality play, outright bad, or simply unproven. Having someone who has played a lot of snaps and was a former high pick is better than what most offer you.
Having some history of positive play at all is better. Like you said, most of the guys who deserve a roster spot are already signed, but there are always a handful of guys who are left. Evans is probably between the “removed from quality play” and “could legitimately be on a roster” groups, which isn’t that bad for a midseason signing. Usually, you have to give up a low pick to a team instead of straight up signing them. So, yes, I think there’s obviously drop off from Vander Esch to Evans, but this is probably more effective than, say, an undrafted free agent who barely missed out on being drafted. Compared to most available options, most GMs or coaches will take the guy with some sort of history. Evans might offer something better in one specific aspect, though, which is run defense-if he hasn’t lost a step. Who knows-he could stink it up and get cut next week. Right now, from what we’ve seen in the past, it looks to be worth a shot.
Unimpressive……after one bad game….. LMFAO