Four Cowboys Who Likely Won’t Be Back in 2026-and Why That Matters
The 2025 season was a gut punch for the Dallas Cowboys. Expectations were sky-high-as they always are in Jerry World-but the results fell flat.
Missing the playoffs wasn’t just a disappointment; it was a failure by the franchise’s own standards. Jerry Jones didn’t mince words, calling the season an “underachievement,” and while he struck a hopeful tone looking ahead, the message was clear: change is coming.
The Cowboys have plenty of work to do if they want to get back in the NFC conversation, and that starts with tough decisions on the roster. Defense, in particular, needs a serious overhaul.
But this isn’t just about adding pieces-it’s about clearing out the ones that no longer fit. Sometimes, subtraction is the first step toward progress.
Here are four players who, based on performance and fit, likely won’t be part of the Cowboys’ 2026 plans-and why moving on makes sense.
1. Kenneth Murray Jr., LB - The Homecoming That Didn’t Stick
When Dallas traded for Kenneth Murray Jr. last offseason, it felt like a low-risk move with upside. A former first-round pick coming back to his home state?
It had the makings of a feel-good story. But nine games later, the experiment is all but over.
Murray’s role shrank quickly. Once reinforcements arrived, he slid from every-down linebacker to rotational piece-and even that might be generous.
The numbers paint a rough picture: an 11.5% missed tackle rate and 232 yards allowed after the catch. That's a tough combo for a linebacker who was supposed to shore up the middle of the defense.
If you can’t wrap up and you’re a liability in coverage, it’s hard to justify your spot on the field. That’s where Murray finds himself now-on the outside looking in.
2. Jalen Tolbert, WR - The Depth Chart Passed Him By
Jalen Tolbert’s time in Dallas has been a case of opportunity missed. It’s not just about what he didn’t do-it’s about what others did.
CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens are the headliners, commanding the lion’s share of targets. Ryan Flournoy stepped up in a big way this season, carving out a role as a reliable intermediate threat.
And KaVontae Turpin? He’s not just a return ace-he’s become a gadget weapon who gets touches in creative ways.
That left Tolbert as the odd man out. His snap count plummeted after Week 8, and he was a healthy scratch multiple times down the stretch. The writing’s on the wall: the Cowboys have moved on, even if the transaction hasn’t been made official yet.
3. Sam Williams, EDGE - A Draft Pick Who Didn’t Deliver
Sam Williams was supposed to be part of the Cowboys’ pass-rushing future. A second-round pick in 2022, he had the tools to be disruptive off the edge.
But in the first year of the post-Micah Parsons era, Dallas needed someone-anyone-to step up on the perimeter. Williams didn’t.
He struggled to stay on the field, and when he did, the impact just wasn’t there. His pass-rushing grade, per Pro Football Focus, came in at 55.0-ranking 104th out of 115 qualified edge defenders. That’s not going to cut it, especially for a team that desperately needed someone to generate heat off the edge.
Injuries have played a role, but at some point, potential has to turn into production. For Williams, that hasn’t happened in Dallas.
4. Logan Wilson, LB - A Midseason Addition That Didn’t Move the Needle
When the Cowboys brought in Logan Wilson from Cincinnati midseason, it was a move born out of necessity. Kenneth Murray wasn’t getting the job done, so Dallas looked for a quick fix. But Wilson didn’t exactly light it up either.
He split time with Murray, and while he may have been a slight upgrade, it wasn’t enough to change the trajectory of the defense. In seven games, Wilson recorded 24 tackles, a pass deflection, and a forced fumble-solid, but unspectacular numbers for a position that desperately needed a stabilizing force.
Wilson is under contract through 2027, but the Cowboys can move on without taking a financial hit. Cutting him would free up $6.5 million in cap space for 2026, with no dead money attached. That’s the kind of flexibility a team in transition can’t afford to ignore.
The Bigger Picture
The Cowboys aren’t just tweaking around the edges-they’re staring down a potentially pivotal offseason. Jerry Jones has made it clear: the status quo isn’t good enough. If Dallas wants to get back to contending, it starts with reshaping the roster-and that means parting ways with players who haven’t lived up to expectations.
Whether it’s underperformance, poor fit, or simply being passed on the depth chart, these four names are emblematic of a team in need of a reset. And if the Cowboys want to avoid another season of unmet expectations, that reset has to start now.