The Dallas Cowboys’ defense was a weekly horror show in 2025. Missed tackles. Blown coverages. Zero takeaways at the worst possible moments. After ranking near the bottom of the NFL in multiple defensive metrics, Dallas fired defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus and handed the keys to Christian Parker. That’s step one.

Step two? Injecting real playmaking talent into a unit that desperately needs juice.

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Enter Devin Lloyd. The former Utah star and 2022 first-round pick is projected to be one of the biggest names in NFL free agency. ESPN analyst Aaron Schatz floated the idea of Lloyd landing in Dallas, and it’s not hard to see why. The Cowboys need impact defenders. Lloyd is exactly that.

“The Cowboys had one of the worst defenses in NFL history in 2025, according to my DVOA metric, and they are in desperate need of playmakers. So why not bring in Lloyd? He is a solid starting linebacker who had five interceptions and 1.5 sacks last season,” Schatz wrote.

In 2025, Lloyd reminded everyone why he was a first-rounder. He racked up five interceptions — including a jaw-dropping 99-yard pick-six — along with 1.5 sacks and over 100 tackles for the third straight season. Through four NFL seasons, he’s totaled 436 tackles, 26 pass breakups and nine interceptions. That’s not just production. That’s consistency.

According to Pro Football Focus, Lloyd graded out at 89.1 overall, ranking as the third-best linebacker in football. He was equally disruptive against the run and in coverage, which matters in a division loaded with versatile offensive weapons. At 6-3 and 235 pounds, he brings size, range and ball skills — three things Dallas sorely lacked in 2025.

But here’s the catch: money.

Spotrac projects Lloyd could command roughly three years and $60 million, averaging just north of $20 million annually. For a Cowboys team juggling cap space and potential restructures, that’s not pocket change. Signing Lloyd might mean passing on other free-agent targets.

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Still, Jerry Jones has hinted at aggression this offseason. Dallas also owns two first-round picks, giving them flexibility to address multiple needs. If the front office truly wants to flip the script defensively, Lloyd is the type of cornerstone addition who changes the tone in the locker room and on the field.

The Cowboys don’t just need improvement. They need a difference-maker.

Devin Lloyd fits that description perfectly.