By signing free agent Jack Sanborn, trading for Kenneth Murray, and drafting Shemar James, the Dallas Cowboys used every option available to them in the attempt to upgrade and provide depth to their linebacker position this offseason. Still, it didn’t really feel as if they did enough, raising some concern about the overall talent of the position heading into the 2025 NFL season. Is that still the case?
After several weeks of training camp and with the first preseason game against Los Angeles Rams in the books, the Cowboys LB position from top to bottom has showed enough promise that it may not be as big of a concern as it previously was. Dallas seems to have a good solid starting duo in Jack Sanborn and Kenneth Murray, and if Week 1 of preseason was any indication, the depth behind them shows quite a bit of promise as well.
What once was considered a pretty significant concern, now looks as if the Cowboys have a ready solid group of LBs at their disposal in 2025. And, that’s not even mentioning the eventual return of DeMarvion Overshown at some point this season. Once he is back in the fold and hopefully picking up where he left off last year, his addition has a chance of helping this group take their play to an entirely different level.
The one linebacker we haven’t really discussed is Marist Liufau, who has been really impressive in both training camp and last Saturday in the preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams. He seems to have taken his game to an entirely different level in his second season in Dallas and it hasn’t gone unnoticed by head coach Brian Schottenheimer, who recently called him a “gritty” linebacker who has been incredible throughout the offseason.
A third-round pick out of Notre Dame, Marist Liufau is coming off a strong rookie season for the Cowboys in 2024. In 17 games with nine starts, he recorded 50 tackles, three passes defensed, two forced fumbles, and 1.5 QB sacks last year. He accomplished all this playing just 47.19% of Dallas’ defensive snap counts. With an expected expanded defensive role in 2025, he should see all of last season’s numbers dwarf in comparison to this year’s.
The second-year LB seems to be processing the game much faster than he was a season ago and is expected to be a key piece to Matt Eberflus’ defense this season. That’s a scary thought for opposing defenses considering he already played as if he was shot out of a cannon any time he takes the field. That’s exactly the type of tenacious energy this defensive needs and hopefully becomes contagious.
Although both Jack Sanborn and Kenneth Murray have proven themselves in the league, neither can match Marist Liufau’s tenacious play on the field, and neither has his upside. It’s because of that we predict No. 35 is not only going to have a breakout season for the Cowboys in 2025, but also end up becoming their best LB this year.
See More:
