Cowboys' Linebacker Situation Reaches Breaking Point as Kenneth Murray Struggles
The Dallas Cowboys came into 2025 hoping to patch up a linebacker unit that had taken some hits - both literally and figuratively - since the end of last season. With DeMarvion Overshown still working his way back from a serious knee injury and a new defensive coordinator, Matt Eberflus, stepping in, Dallas turned to veteran reinforcements.
The team signed Jack Sanborn to a one-year deal and traded for Kenneth Murray from the Titans. Neither move made headlines at the time, but the Cowboys were banking on experience to stabilize a shaky position group.
Fast forward to December, and it’s clear the plan hasn’t worked. Sanborn didn’t last past Week 7, and Murray? He’s still out there - but not for the reasons fans might hope.
Murray’s Struggles on Full Display
Thursday night’s game against the Detroit Lions gave a national audience a front-row seat to the Kenneth Murray experience, and it wasn’t pretty. Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs left him grasping at air on a pass play, and Murray’s issues in coverage were once again front and center.
While Pro Football Focus gave him decent marks in run defense (73.3) and tackling (76.8), his overall grade told a different story - just 31.9, the third-lowest among Cowboys defenders. His coverage grade?
A brutal 28.3.
And it’s not just one game. Over the course of the season, Murray ranks dead last among 84 qualified linebackers in run defense (29.1), and his 46.0 grade in coverage puts him near the bottom of the league.
Opposing quarterbacks are completing 85% of their passes when targeting him, with a passer rating of 120.0 and two touchdowns allowed. Add in seven missed tackles - tied for the second-most in any season of his career - and it’s clear Murray has become a liability.
The Eye Test Doesn’t Lie
Sometimes, stats don’t tell the full story. But in Murray’s case, the numbers and the film are in agreement.
He’s struggling in every facet of the game, and offenses are taking full advantage. Whether it’s getting beat in space or missing open-field tackles, Murray has become a weak link in a defense that’s trying to stay afloat in a competitive NFC.
And yet, the Cowboys continue to roll him out week after week, even after acquiring Logan Wilson in a midseason trade with Cincinnati. Wilson hasn’t had a standout year either, but at this point, Dallas has little to lose by giving him more snaps and seeing if he can be part of the long-term picture. He has a potential out in his contract after 2026 - and the team needs to know what they have.
What's Next for Dallas?
With Sanborn already gone and Murray’s future in Dallas all but sealed, the Cowboys are staring at a reset at linebacker heading into the 2026 offseason. Overshown’s return could help, and second-year player Marist Liufau has shown flashes, but this group needs more than just depth - it needs a difference-maker.
Expect linebacker to be high on the Cowboys’ priority list in the 2026 NFL Draft, especially with two roster spots likely opening up. Whether it’s through the draft or free agency, Dallas has to get this position right. Because right now, the middle of the defense is a problem - and teams know it.
The Kenneth Murray experiment hasn’t just failed. It’s become a weekly reminder of what happens when a defense can’t trust its second level. The Cowboys still have time to make adjustments, but if they want to make a serious postseason run - or build for the future - that adjustment has to start with who’s on the field.