The Cowboys acquired LB Kenneth Murray Jr. from the Titans this week, amid a significant remodeling of their LB corps. Neither of the two off-ball starters from last season -- Eric Kendricks and DeMarvion Overshown -- appears likely to take the field in Week 1 of 2025. Murray arrives after just one season of a two-year contract he signed with Tennessee, following a four-year stint with the chargers. He arrived as a first-round pick back in 2020.
Cowboys beat writer Saad Yousuf in The Athletic: "Cowboys are covering their bases when it comes to the linebacker position. Marist Liufau emerged as a stable piece in the middle last year as a rookie, but the Cowboys have a lot of question marks around him. Kendricks was a Mike Zimmer guy, so it’s unlikely the Cowboys bring him back after his one year in Dallas last year under Zimmer. Damone Clark is a decent veteran depth piece. DeMarvion Overshown is the big piece to the puzzle but he will miss time to begin the season as he recovers from a serious knee injury late last season."
Overshown's easily the most intriguing talent of the group. But he tore the ACL, MCL, and PCL in his right knee in Week 14. If he plays at all in 2025, it'll be at least a minor miracle.
Liufau, a third-round pick last April, stepped into the lineup after Overshown went down. He didn't do anything special ... but did allow completions on all 14 passes thrown into his coverage over the final four games, according to Pro Football Focus.
Murray's an odd pickup. The Cowboys didn't have to give up much to get him -- sending a sixth-round pick (188th overall) and getting back a seventh-rounder (239th). But Murray comes with a $10.16 million cap hit for 2025, and I haven't seen anything about Tennessee paying a portion of that.
Murray hit free agency last offseason because the Chargers declined the fifth-year option on his rookie contract and then let him walk after four years spent mostly as a starter. Now Tennessee has booted Murray after a year, and replaced him with super-meh Cody Barton.
The cap number, though, makes Murray look like the pretty clear best bet to lead Cowboys LBs in 2025 playing time.
He ranked just 40th among LBs in fantasy points per game last season. Murray's career-best scoring average to date found him 31st at the position in 2023.
Playing full time for the Cowboys would certainly give him a shot at LB3 production. Betting on anything above that would be risky.
Dallas also signed former Bears LB Jack Sanborn as a free agent this week. He flashed a bit in limited fill-in duty across three years in Chicago and could be an interesting competitor this summer.
The combo of moves -- with plenty of time for more to happen -- doesn't bode well for Liufau. He should still have the opportunity to win a job. But if new DC Matt Eberflus were impressed with Liufau's tape, perhaps the trade wouldn't have happened.
Kendricks, meanwhile, remains on the open market -- ahead of his age-33 season.
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