The Dallas Cowboys‘ linebacker position underwent a massive change last season. DeMarvion Overshown was returning from a season-ending injury and the team signed had Eric Kendricks to replace Leighton Vander Esch. The former 2018 first-round pick had to retire due to medical concerns. The team also selected Marist Liufau with the intention of the Notre Dame rookie contributing in Year 1.

The unit improved but the team overhauled the position again this offseason, signing a free agent, trading for a starting-quality player, and moving up in the draft for a prospect they liked. The Cowboys might need their linebackers to be better than they were a year ago to assure the overall defense is improved, but has the front office pulled that off?

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Eric Kendricks’ 10th season went well in his return to a Mike Zimmer unit, notching his second-highest tackle and interception career totals, and his highest number of forced fumbles. He was on a one-year deal though and does not return.

Dallas hopes to mirror some of that with the signing of Jack Sanborn. Like Kendricks for Zimmer, Sanborn knows the new defensive coordinator, Matt Eberflus’ defense. He won’t be expected to start 15 games and lead the team in tackles, but he will help his teammates learn the system and offer incredible depth for the linebacker group. Sanborn is a special teams ace as well. He has played over 800 career snaps on that unit and over 80% of special teams snaps last season.

Dallas traded for Kenneth Murray as the starting middle linebacker, who replaces Kendricks on the field. Over the last two seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers and Tennessee Titans, Murray played over 90% of the defensive snaps, averaging over 100 tackles and three sacks. He is an excellent athlete, but isn’t instinctual and doesn’t play with top-notch anticipation. Eberflus has always been considered a “linebacker whisperer” and has helped develop Sean Lee, Rolando McClain, Anthony Hitchens, Shaquille Leonard, Bobby Okereke, and Roquan Smith. It could elevate the entire unit if he could help take a good production guy like Murray, to the next level.

Kendricks for Sanborn and Murray could be a wash. Sandborn understands the defense, and Murray brings a lot of production. The difference in 2025 could be how Liufau develops, how good fifth-round pick Shemar James plays as a rookie, and how Overshown comes back from injury.

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Liufau would need to take a year two leap after starting nine games as a rookie where he had 50 tackles, 1.5 sacks, four tackles for a loss, two forced fumbles, and three pass deflections. Overshown is the most questionable to get better. He was incredible coming off an injury in 2024, totaling 90 tackles in 12 starts, eight for a loss, five sacks, and an interception he returned for a touchdown. If James can contribute more than Nick Vigil, who started one game but played in 16 as a special teams contributor, the linebacker corps will be better.

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This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Cowboys changes at linebacker could bring them a better defense in ’25