For the Dallas Cowboys, the search for a new defensive coordinator is ongoing, with a first round of interviews through and a second round ahead. But as the team has indicated, finding a replacement for fired coordinator Matt Eberflus is only part of the battle–there needs to be much, much better personnel on hand for the next guy.
As team vice president Stephen Jones told the Cowboys website last week, “The guys who fit what we want to be as a defense, the identity that we want to have, that fit with the personnel that we have on the defensive side of the ball because we think we have a lot of good pieces in place. We know we have to improve not only from a coaching staff standpoint, but we also need to improve from a personnel standpoint.”
For a team that was 32nd in points allowed and 30th in yards allowed, that would be welcome.
Cowboys Ready to Move on From Kenneth Murray
If there’s any place that the Cowboys should likely start first when it comes to revamping the defense, it’s probably at linebacker (a case could be made for the defensive backfield, but there are some pieces in place there, and fixing the linebackers could be an easier exercise).
DeMarvion Overshown came back from his knee injury and showed he still has promise, but his injury history renders him unreliable. And the top free agent the Cowboys brought in last offseason–Kenneth Murray–was a complete and utter bust.
Out of 89 linebackers who were graded at Pro Football Focus this season, Murray was No. 87. He struggled against the run. He struggled to defend short routes in the passing game. He struggled in the pass rush. There wasn’t much that Murray did well.
Dallas Cowboys COO Stephen Jones, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones
‘Shut the Door on Kenneth Murray’
In going through the list of pending free agents for the Cowboys this offseason, Jon Machota of The Athletic did not hesitate to say the team should dump Murray. Speaking on “The One-Star Podcast,” Machota said that every free agent could be welcomed back if the price was cheap. But then Murray was brought up by hose KT Turner.
Said Turner: “I am going to shut the door on Kenneth Murray.”
Machota responded: “Yes, that’s very fair. You came up with somebody that the dollar amount would not interest me. Honestly, the first time in my life where, that’s OK.”
Cowboys Have Priority Free Agents
As for the top Cowboys free agents the group advocated bring back, three stand out: receiver George Pickens, running back Javonte Williams and pass-rusher Jadeveon Clowney.
The Cowboys are notoriously tough when it comes to giving out free-agent contracts, but all three veterans proved themselves in 2025. Clowney got a late start on the season–he was unsigned in training camp–and played only 13 games but still wound up with 8.5 sacks on the season.
Pickens led the Cowboys with 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns in what was by far his best season. Both sides want to have Pickens stay in Dallas, and if they can’t come to terms on an agreement, the Cowboys could use the franchise tag to ensure Pickens stays another year.
Williams also had a career year with 1,201 yards rushing.
