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2018 NFL Draft: Biggest need for each team

By Conor Dorney

PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 27: Commissioner of the National Football League Roger Goodell speaks during the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft at the Philadelphia Museum of Art on April 27, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 27: Commissioner of the National Football League Roger Goodell speaks during the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft at the Philadelphia Museum of Art on April 27, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images) /
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BRONX, NY – DECEMBER 27: Iowa Hawkeyes linebacker Josey Jewell (43) during the New Era Pinstripe Bowl on December 27, 2017, between the Boston College Eagles and the Iowa Hawkeyes at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, NY. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
BRONX, NY – DECEMBER 27: Iowa Hawkeyes linebacker Josey Jewell (43) during the New Era Pinstripe Bowl on December 27, 2017, between the Boston College Eagles and the Iowa Hawkeyes at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, NY. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Dallas Cowboys: Linebacker

After Anthony Hitchens received a shockingly large contracts this offseason from the Kansas City Chiefs, Dallas appears ready to target one or more linebackers in the 2018 NFL Draft.

While Sean Lee has been one of the best linebackers in football in recent years, he will be entering his age-32 season in 2018 and his durability could be a concern going forward. Jaylon Smith will take over duties at middle linebacker, but the team’s current depth at strongside linebacker is what they will need to address.

Picking at No. 19 in the first round means that Dallas will more than likely miss out on the top linebackers in the class (Tremaine Edmunds, Roquan Smith, Leighton Vander Esch), but there are still some intriguing prospects that figure to be in the mix on days two and three. Pairing a linebacker like Iowa’s Josey Jewell or Purdue’s T.J. McCollum with a veteran free agent signing could help the team to feel much better about their depth at the position.

The age of Sean Lee and past injury history of Jaylon Smith means that the Cowboys’ defense will be in rough shape if either is lost for significant time, making the acquisition of one or more linebackers in this draft even more important. Depending on how the team feels about next year’s impending free agency of DeMarcus Lawrence, the Cowboys could take an athletic edge rusher early, or wide receiver, before focusing on their issues at linebacker in the later rounds.

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