The linebacker position has been one of the most talked-about positions on the Dallas Cowboys this season for all the wrong reasons, which is a stark contrast from what we saw from this unit in 2024. In the offseason, the Cowboys revamped their linebacker room, signing veteran Jack Sanborn to a one-year deal and acquiring veteran Kenneth Murray in a trade from the Tennessee Titans.
Neither acquisition was considered a huge needle mover for Dallas. However, with a new defensive coordinator taking over in Matt Eberflus and DeMarvion Overshown still recovering from his devastating knee injury, the Cowboys needed some veterans to join second-year LB Marist Liufau.
Fast forward several months, and the Cowboys’ decisions to bring in Sanborn and Murray have completely blown up in their faces. Dallas ended the Sanborn experiment rather quickly after Week 7.
For some reason, the Cowboys continue to play Murray, who has been an utter disaster, over Liufau and Logan Wilson, who was recently acquired in a trade from the Cincinnati Bengals last month. At this rate, Dallas should not re-sign Murray, and for most Dallas fans, they’ll be happy to see the team go in a different direction in 2026.
Kenneth Murray Jr. Is Quickly Playing His Way Out of Dallas
A lot of football fans got an up-close look at the Kenneth Murray experience on Thursday night against the Detroit Lions. It was not a great showing by the veteran defender, who got his ankles taken from him by running back Jahmyr Gibbs on a catch. And he was a liability in run defense.
According to Pro Football Focus, Murray had the third-lowest overall defensive grade (31.9), but was surprisingly effective in run defense (73.3) and tackling (76.8). However, the eye test said something completely different. Meanwhile, Murray’s coverage grade was a terrible 28.3.
For the season, Murray has a poor run defense grade (29.1, ranked 84th among 84 qualified LBs), along with a dismal pass coverage grade (46.0, ranked 65th), per PFF.
Following the Cowboys’ loss to the Lions, opponents are completing 85% of their targets against Murray, who also boasts a 120.0 passer rating, and has given up two receiving touchdowns. He also has seven missed tackles on his resume for this season, tied for second-most in his career.
Sadly, pass coverage hasn’t been Murray’s strong suit outside of his last two years with the Los Angeles Chargers, and Cowboys fans are seeing it every week. When you have a linebacker who can’t cover and is a liability in run defense, it gives offenses an easy target to pick on.
As we previously mentioned, the fan base wants to see less of Murray on the field. And you can’t blame them for that, especially with the Cowboys having Wilson. Granted, Wilson hasn’t had the best 2025 season, dating back to his time with the Bengals.
But if you’re the Cowboys, you've got to try something different to see if Wilson can be a part of this defense going forward, as he has a potential out in his contract for 2026. The story is almost written about Murray’s tenure in Dallas. It’s been a disappointment and one to forget.
The Cowboys must make linebacker a priority in the offseason, particularly in the 2026 NFL draft, as they’ll have at least two spots to fill on the 53-man roster with Murray and Sanborn likely done after this season.