Cowboys agree to terms with LB Eric Kendricks

FRISCO, Texas— The Dallas Cowboys have made their first outside move of free agency, agreeing to terms with nine-year veteran linebacker Eric Kendricks.

Kendricks, who initially elected to join the San Francisco 49ers during the legal tampering period earlier this week, will head to Dallas, where he will reunite with defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer after the former Minnesota head coach selected and helped develop the All-2019. He has become one of the best middle linebackers in the league.

After spending eight seasons in Minnesota, Kendricks spent 2023 with the Los Angeles Chargers before being released on March 5. He joins the Cowboys defense after eight consecutive seasons with more than 100 tackles.

The linebacker room was in dire need of help heading into the offseason after Markquese Bell was forced from safety to play linebacker following Leighton Vander Esch’s injury in week five.

With Vander Esch’s injury putting his NFL future at stake, only Damone Clark remains as the only linebacker on the season’s final 53-man roster. DeMarvion Overshown, who missed his entire rookie season with a torn ACL, is expected to be released in time for training camp to make his contributions at linebacker.

The potential signing of Kendricks would add a reliable veteran to the middle of the defense who has been known to be a key leadership piece in Mike Zimmer’s defenses since his days in Minnesota. With or without Vander Esch’s return, Kendricks will bring reliability and IQ to the middle linebacker spot in 2024.

The Cowboys have also been closely monitoring the linebacker position in the upcoming draft, having conducted five formal interviews with linebacker prospects at the NFL Scouting Combine earlier this month.

Kendricks was a second-round pick of the Vikings in 2015 after a productive college career at UCLA. His eight seasons in Minnesota saw him play in 117 games before playing in 15 games last season with the Chargers.