The Cowboys could stand to add at linebacker, so the release of Shaq Leonard really couldn’t be coming at a better time for them.
Leonard hit the market last week after the Colts parted ways with him. The 28-year-old broke into the NFL in 2018 and had spent the entirety of his career in Indianapolis, earning All-Pro honors three times.
He most recently was All-Pro in 2021, but a back injury limited him to three games last season, then he saw his snap counts decrease this year up until his release. It’s plausible that he could still be an impact player for a defense.
The Cowboys lost Leighton Vander Esch for the season, so there’s an obvious hole at linebacker. Dallas head coach Mike McCarthy shared his thoughts on Leonard during his appearance Tuesday on Shan & RJ.
“Good football player, actually excited to meet with him and see where this goes,” McCarthy said. “I think just like everything in this league, you’ve got to evaluate the medical part of it, but just have tremendous respect for him, for what he’s done. But this is part of the business, part of this league. When you have opportunities like this, you definitely have to look into it.”
Leonard will meet with the Cowboys this week. As for whether said meeting will take place Tuesday, McCarthy was mum.
“Hey, I’m looking forward to meeting him,” he quipped.