The Cowboys are heading toward a roster crunch that could turn into a trade market before the Aug. 30 cutdown deadline, and two names stand out as possible move pieces: Marist Liufau and Malik Hooker.
Liufau is the more intriguing case. Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton suggested the Cowboys should consider dealing the linebacker-turned-edge-rusher, saying he could be worth a late pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.
Moton wrote, "If Liufau struggles with a move to the edge, the Cowboys could shop him before final roster cuts," Moton write. "Teams in need of a rotational pass-rusher may see untapped potential in the 25-year-old at his new position."
That idea makes sense based on how Dallas has handled him. A third-round pick in 2024, the Notre Dame product hasn’t developed the way the Cowboys expected, and now he’s set to shift to edge rusher in 2026. That move says plenty about where the team thinks he fits - and it’s not at linebacker, where he started out.
The problem is that edge is a tough place to learn on the fly, and Dallas may not want to wait around for Liufau to catch up. The depth chart there is already crowded after the Cowboys added Rashan Gary in a trade and Malachi Lawrence in the 2026 NFL Draft, while Donovan Ezeiraku, Sam Williams and James Houston are all back.
For Liufau to survive cutdown day, Dallas would likely have to keep six edge rushers on the 53-man roster. The Cowboys did carry six on the initial 53 in 2025, but one of those players was Micah Parsons, who was traded a few days later.
Liufau’s special teams value and his linebacker background could help him, but even that may not be enough with so many bodies in the mix. Unless he turns heads in camp, the safer bet is that he’s elsewhere by 2026, with a trade most likely coming right before cutdown day or soon after.
Hooker is in a different spot, but he’s on the same kind of watch list. Dallas’ offseason investment at safety makes it pretty clear the team hasn’t been fully satisfied with his recent play, and the numbers at the position back that up. Jalen Thompson, Caleb Downs and PJ Locke look locked in, which leaves one job open.
If Hooker winds up as the No. 4 safety, a trade request or release wouldn’t be out of the question, and the Cowboys would likely accommodate him. Still, Markquese Bell’s situation could change everything. Bell was arrested this offseason and faces a possible suspension, and if the NFL hits him hard, Dallas may have to keep Hooker around even if he’s stuck low on the depth chart.
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