3 Dallas Cowboys who have to take the next step this season
By Jakob Ashlin
Cowboys who have to take the next step this season: 2. Jabril Cox
Currently, linebacker Anthony Barr remains on the free agent market. Barr was a four-time Pro Bowl selection during his time with the Minnesota Vikings. Last offseason, he signed a one-year deal with the Cowboys.
The veteran ended up playing a sizeable role for the team, starting 10 games and playing 63 percent of their defensive snaps.
With Barr’s projected departure, 25-year-old Jabril Cox is forecasted to move into the starting lineup. The 2021 fourth-round pick was a standout at North Dakota State; he was the Missouri Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year (2018), a two-time FCS All-American, and a three-time FCS champion.
However, he has played sparingly in his first two NFL seasons, logging a total of 45 defensive snaps and recording eight combined tackles.
Nevertheless, Cox has been generating some positive buzz during training camp:
During the two-minute end-of-game situation for second team, LB Jabril Cox broke up an end-zone pass to set up fourth and goal. Teammates caused a brief delay when crowding Cox in celebration. They became louder when, on fourth down, Cox broke up another EZ pass to win game.
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) June 6, 2023
The young linebacker will play a key role for the Cowboys’ defense, and he could be in store for a breakout year.