5. Eric Kendricks, linebacker
One of the other defensive players who seems like a lock to be gone from this Dallas Cowboys roster in 2025 is the team's leading tackler: Eric Kendricks.
I think we all know why Kendricks came to Dallas in the first place, and it was his ties to defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer. Now former defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer. That doesn't mean that Matt Eberflus won't want to work with Kendricks, but he's going to be 33 this coming season and Dallas has drafted well at the off-ball linebacker position in recent years.
They obviously believe strongly in former third-round pick DeMarvion Overshown, who had a nice breakout year in 2024 with 90 total tackles, 8.0 tackles for loss, and 5.0 sacks among other notable ways of impacting the game. Overshown will be joined in the 2025 starting unit by 2024 third-round pick Marist Liufau who played in all 17 games this past season, started nine, and racked up 50 total tackles with a pair of forced fumbles and 4.0 tackles for loss.
Kendricks had a good year for the Cowboys, but this is a sacrifice the team is going to have to consider making. Not only do the Cowboys have to deal with Kendricks and DeMarcus Lawrence being free agents on the defensive side of the ball, but they will have to think about what they're going to do with defensive lineman Osa Odighizuwa (who should be a priority), slot cornerback Jourdan Lewis, veteran pass rusher Carl Lawson, and others like cornerbacks Andrew Booth and special teamers like CJ Goodwin and punter Bryan Anger.
There's just not enough of the salary cap pie to go around when it comes to bringing back a veteran like Kendricks, and the Cowboys will likely go with a younger crew at linebacker as they build Matt Eberflus's defense.