Cowboys agree to terms with LB Eric Kendricks

Texas’s Frisco The Dallas Cowboys have signed nine-year veteran linebacker Eric Kendricks to a contract, marking their first outside signing of free agency.

Rather than sign with the San Francisco 49ers during the legal tampering period earlier this week, Kendricks will travel to Dallas, where he will rejoin defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer. Zimmer, the former head coach of Minnesota, drafted and assisted in developing the 2019 All-Pro into one of the league’s best middle linebackers.

Kendricks was released on March 5 after playing for the Los Angeles Chargers in 2023 following eight seasons in Minnesota. After eight seasons with 100 or more tackles, he joins the Cowboys defense.

The linebacker room needed a lot of work of support heading into the summer after Leighton Vander Esch’s injury in week five caused Markquese Bell to go up from safety to linebacker.

Only Damone Clark is left from the final 53-man roster of the season, with Vander Esch’s injury casting doubt on his NFL future. It is anticipated that DeMarvion Overshown, who had an ACL tear during his rookie season and missed the whole campaign, will recover in time for training camp and contribute to the linebacker position.

Should Kendricks sign, the defense would gain a dependable veteran in the center of the field who has been a vital leader on Mike Zimmer’s teams since their time in Minnesota. With or without In 2024, with Vander Esch returning, Kendricks adds intelligence and dependability to the middle linebacker position.

The Cowboys, who held five official interviews with linebacker candidates at the NFL Scouting Combine earlier this month, have also been closely monitoring the linebacker position in the forthcoming selection.

After a successful time as a UCLA student, Kendricks was selected by the Vikings in the second round of the 2015 draft. Before playing in 15 games with the Chargers last season, he played in 117 games during his eight seasons in Minnesota.