The Dallas Cowboys will be bracing for movement now that the 2026 NFL free agency tampering period is two weeks away. All 32 teams will be allowed to talk to opposing players on Monday, March 9, meaning it won't be long until outside threats begin to target the Cowboys' pending free agents and vice versa.
America's Team already addressed one of its free agents by signing running back Javonte Williams to a three-year contract on Saturday. Having said that, the Cowboys still have 15 unrestricted free agents to make decisions on, per Spotrac, and while some of those names deserve to return, someone like Kenneth Murray Jr. doesn't.
Cowboys Won't Shed Tears if Kenneth Murray Jr. Leaves in Free Agency
Before the numerous defensive letdowns last season, the Cowboys attempted to give the unit a boost when they traded for Murray last March. The former first-round pick was coming off a career-high 3.5 sacks with the Tennessee Titans in 2024, giving owner/general manager Jerry Jones hope that the veteran could help now-former defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus' squad.
Fast forward to the 2025 season, when the only thing Murray helped was finding new ways to give Cowboys fans headaches. He consistently struggled to get to opposing quarterbacks, resulting in only 10 pressures, per Pro Football Focus — his lowest total since he finished with six in 2021. It was the opposite of what Dallas needed after trading away Micah Parsons while DeMarvion Overshown spent the early season on the sidelines.
Despite his obvious struggles, Murray saw a whopping 870 defensive snaps — the third-highest total of his six-year career — due to Eberflus' undying loyalty. Even though the Cowboys weren't exactly overflowing with reliable linebacker depth, it would've been nice to see more of those snaps go to rookie Shemar James or Marist Liufau.
Now that his contract will expire next month, the Cowboys can finally wash their hands of Murray and move on without hassle. Even if they want to bring him back, Spotrac is projecting an annual market value of $4.9 million, which is more than what his recent play deserves. He'll likely be forced to take a cheaper one-year, prove-it deal before any team is willing to give him a significant contract.
Cowboys fans are well aware of Jones' bad habit of making head-scratching roster decisions, especially as far as the LB room is concerned. The last thing needed is for the eccentric billionaire to convince himself that Murray deserves another chance, even if it isn't what new DC Christian Parker's unit needs.
Dallas has already taken a step to improve its linebacker situation by waiving Logan Wilson earlier this week, and allowing Murray to walk right out the door would help keep that momentum going. It's unlikely that he'll turn his career around with a fresh start if last season was an indication.
At the end of the day, the Cowboys have nothing to lose and everything to gain by letting Murray be someone else's problem next season, giving fans every reason to be excited about a likely split in March.