Veteran linebacker Eric Kendricks decided to choose the Dallas Cowboys over the San Francisco 49ers this offseason, and he said he did so because he would not have had as big of a role with the 49ers, and he believes he has a lot left to give as a featured piece in a defense.
“I think I would’ve taken more of a reserved role (in San Francisco), where as I feel I have a lot left to give and I wanted to be here and be middle linebacker,” Eric Kendricks said, via Jon Machota of The Athletic.
“I wanted to share my experience with the team, share my leadership abilities and command that huddle.”
The Cowboys have been in a bit of a cap crunch this offseason, as they have not made many significant moves as they still try to navigate Dak Prescott’s big cap hit for 2024. Kendricks was a cheaper veteran signing on a one-year, $3.5 million contract.
Given the financial limitations the Cowboys had this offseason and the addition of Mike Zimmer as defensive coordinator, replacing the departed Dan Quinn, Kendricks makes all of the sense in the world.
Kendricks spent eight of his nine NFL seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, many of them with Mike Zimmer as his head coach.
With Zimmer being a defensive head coach, Kendricks knows how to run his defense. Kendricks likely will be the quarterback of the defense and make sure that everyone is doing the right thing on that side of the ball.
Kendricks spent last season with the Los Angeles Chargers and is not the player he was in 2019, when he made the Pro Bowl and was given first-team All-Pro honors, but he will be a valued leader on Dallas’ defense in the 2024 season.
