Did Cowboys waste $7.5 million in acquiring this former 1st-round pick?

USA Today

13-07-2025

Paper is not reality. During the spring and summer months, fans are able to look upon each of their team's offseason moves with optimism. The upside of a player is first and foremost, because the idea of his new coaching staff getting the most out of his talent is the goal. The guy who doesn't play to his potential until in the right environment is a story as old as free agency and the trade market. But oftentimes, the player is who he is, and another man's trash being the new team's treasure never materializes.
Dallas hopes this isn't the case for linebacker Kenneth Murray, who will be the best-paid player in his position group heading into 2025. The Cowboys decided to take the financial cost on, hoping Murray's first-round pedigree will shine in the hands of noted linebacker-whisperer Matt Eberflus, the club's new defensive coordinator. The Cowboys had the cap space and the cash to spare, so the gamble seems worth the risk.
Rundown
Position: Linebacker
Age: 26
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 241 pounds
Hometown: Missouri City, TX
High School: Elkins
College: Oklahoma (Highlights)
Draft: 2020 First-round pick (No. 23 Overall)
Acquired: 2025 Trade
Contract: Two-year contract (2024), $15.5 million
2025 Base Salary: $5.99 million | Cap Hit: $7.41 million
Career Earnings: $20.9 million (per Over The Cap)
Profile
The Cowboys already have a star linebacker; DeMarvion Overshown just can't stay on the field. The former Texas Longhorn is a heat-seeking missle, capable of sideline-to-sideline pursuit and rushing the QB. But with his 2025 debut date up in the air due to a second ACL injury, the club had to bring in some help. Along with Overshown's injury, the team's leading 2024 tackler Eric Kendricks was seen as a perfect fit for Mike Zimmer's group, but apparently wasn't of interest to Eberflus.
Dallas swapped inconsequential Day 3 picks with Tennessee to bring in Murray, who played just one season for the Titans. The cost was more financial, as he's set to count $7.4 million against Dallas' 2025 cap due to $6 million in base salary and $1.5 million in bonus money. Dallas also signed LB Jack Sanborn as a free agent, and there's a strong possibility he is given the authority of starting middle linebacker that will allow Murray to be in more a outside backer role.
The Cowboys do have some young talent at the position in second-year pro Marist Liafau and fourth-year player Damone Clark. Liafau showed relatively well in spurts as a rookie, and could be surprise competition for Murray's snaps. And if Overshown shows his remarkable recovery abilities yet again, Murray might really need to step up his game to not be a liability on the field. His play diagnosis is the biggest knock on him, so that will more likely be the area of emphasis for his new coaching staff to improve on.
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