The Cowboys wanted to keep versatile linebacker Anthony Hitchens but not for the $9 million annual salary the Chiefs gave him. They also lost Kyle Wilber in free agency. Thus, the Cowboys have an obvious hole at linebacker, even after signing former Packers linebacker Joe Thomas for depth purposes.
That’s why the Cowboys have interest in Boise State linebacker Leighton Vander Esch, among others, in the draft.
“We could add a couple of [linebackers] here in the draft,” Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said. “We have 10 draft picks and certainly look to do something there if the right guy is sitting there.