Leighton Vander Esch suffered a season-ending neck injury in 2023, which may force him to retire , increasing the possibility the Dallas Cowboys will take another linebacker in the 2024 NFL Draft.

In his latest mock draft, ESPN’s Field Yates had the Cowboys taking Texas A&M LB Edgerrin Cooper with the 24th overall pick.

13.5 TFLs and 7.0 sacks this year. His blitz value is an added dimension. Always urgent and aggressive in all phases. pic.twitter.com/9qiRiloZ2O

— Jordan Reid (@Jordan_Reid) November 16, 2023
“What makes him so unique are his exceptional movement skills and pass-rush upside. Cooper managed eight sacks last season, including three against Alabama in one of the best performances by a player all season,” wrote Yates. “But Cooper also projects to have the range and instincts to be more than just a proactive linebacker making plays toward the line of scrimmage; he’ll prove he can drop in coverage and carry tight ends as well.”

Alabama, South Carolina and Mississippi State tape for Texas A&M LB Edgerrin Cooper were as good as it gets from a linebacker prospect. He has range, good eyes, comfortable in coverage and attacks as a blitzer.

— Jordan Reid (@Jordan_Reid) November 16, 2023

In five games before his injury, Vander Esch had 30 tackles and one fumble returned for a TD. It was another unfortunate blow for the 27-year-old and the second season-ending neck injury in his six-year career. He underwent neck fusion surgery in 2020.

LB Damone Clark, 23, showed flashes in his second season with a career-high 109 tackles over 17 games. However, the Cowboys need more depth at the position. Micah Parsons mainly serves as a pass-rusher. Dallas tried to convert safety Markquese Bell, who had 94 tackles in 17 games, but he lacks the size (6-foot-3, 205 pounds) needed to excel in this role.

The Cowboys hired defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer to replace Dan Quinn and improve their run defense, which finished 18th in the league in rushing yards allowed (114.1). In 22 seasons, his defenses have ranked in the top 10 in this category seven times, per Cowboys staff writer Nick Harris.

At each of Mike Zimmer’s three stops as a coordinator/head coach, he has brought multiple top-five defenses:

DAL – 2001 (1st), 2003 (3rd)
CIN – 2009 (4th), 2013 (3rd)
MIN – 2016 (3rd), 2017 (1st), 2018 (4th)

Of his 22 defenses, 7 have finished in the top-10 in rush defense.

— Nick Harris (@NickHarrisDC) February 12, 2024

To make the scheme work, Zimmer needs dependable run-stoppers. If Vander Esch retires, taking Cooper to address this need would be the right call.