The Dallas Cowboys enter the offseason knowing change is unavoidable after a defense that consistently put the team behind the curve, and one pending free agent is already emerging as the clearest sign of how firm that reset may be.
As the Cowboys continue their search for a new defensive coordinator, the conversation inside the building has shifted just as much toward who will not be part of the next phase.
Team executive vice president Stephen Jones acknowledged recently that coaching adjustments alone will not fix a unit that ranked near the bottom of the league in both points and yards allowed.
“We know we have to improve not only from a coaching staff standpoint, but we also need to improve from a personnel standpoint,” Jones said, pointing to the need for better alignment between scheme and roster construction.
That reality has placed linebacker Kenneth Murray firmly under the microscope. Brought in to stabilize a thin group and add athletic range to the middle of the defense, Murray never found consistent footing in Dallas.
Why the Murray experiment appears finished
The internal debate about Murray‘s future has spilled into public view. On The Athletic’s One Star Podcast, reporter Jon Machota offered blunt clarity when discussing which pending free agents might be worth retaining at the right price.
“I am going to shut the door on Kenneth Murray,” co host KT Turner said. Machota agreed without hesitation. “That’s very fair. Honestly, the first time in my life where that’s OK.”
For a franchise that traditionally avoids aggressive free agent spending and prefers continuity, that kind of decisiveness speaks volumes.
Murray‘s athletic traits were never in question, but recurring issues with block shedding, angles and coverage awareness prevented him from becoming the dependable presence the Cowboys envisioned when they acquired him.
The linebacker position remains unsettled overall. DeMarvion Overshown continues to work back from significant knee injury concerns, and the depth behind him has largely been built through developmental or special teams contributors.
Dallas had hoped Murray could bridge that gap. Instead, his performance highlighted the broader urgency to upgrade the middle of the defense.
Bigger priorities shaping the offseason
While Murray‘s exit appears likely, Dallas still has several contract decisions that could shape the roster more dramatically.
Wide receiver George Pickens is coming off a career season with 1,429 receiving yards and nine touchdowns and could command either a long term deal or the franchise tag.
Running back Javonte Williams posted a career high 1,201 rushing yards, while veteran pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney delivered 8.5 sacks despite joining late in the year.
Those negotiations will unfold alongside the defensive coordinator search, which includes in person meetings with candidates such as Jonathan Gannon and Daronte Jones.
Whoever lands the job will inherit a defense in need of structural improvement and clearer identity.
Moving on from Murray would not solve all of Dallas‘ defensive issues, but it would represent an early statement that underperformance will no longer be tolerated.
For a franchise determined to avoid another season of defensive instability, difficult roster decisions are becoming unavoidable.
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