After a promising rookie season, former third-round pick Marist Liufau struggled to get on the field for the Dallas Cowboys in 2025. But the team is set to make a move with Liufau to ensure that doesn’t happen again this fall.
The Cowboys announced Thursday that Liufau will play outside linebacker, moving from inside linebacker, where he spent his first two NFL campaigns.
In addition to Dallascowboys.com’s Patrik Walker covering Liufau’s position switch at the team’s website, head coach Brian Schottenheimer announced the 25-year-old’s change while speaking to reporters.
“Marist Liufau, we’re gonna move him to outside linebacker,” Schottenheimer said at the 2026 NFL Combine. “That kind of fits his strengths, right? He’s got length. He’s got long arms and he’s really good at disrupting the ball.”
Schottenheimer continued to explain why Liufau is fit for a position change. The Cowboys head coach also added the team addressed the switch with the linebacker.
“He doesn’t have the great twitch, but he’s got the strength to knock guys back. And, again, the length is what just jumps off the film. He’s excited about it,” said Schottenheimer.
“We’ve talked to Marist about it. He was excited. He can eat a little bit more to get his weight back up a little bit.”
Cowboys’ Marist Liufau Changing Positions
Liufau had a strong rookie season at inside linebacker in 2024. Over 17 games that season, he had 50 combined tackles, including four tackles for loss and three pass defenses.
But the former third-rounder didn’t repeat that success last year.
Walker placed a lot of the blame with Liufau’s setback on former Cowboys defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus.
“[His] slump was largely rooted in a disconnect between Liufau and former defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, the latter being hellbent on giving the majority of the linebacker reps to Jack Sanborn and Kenneth Murray, even while DeMarvion Overshown continued his recovery on injured reserve,” wrote Walker.
“Liufau will be released from his cage by Christian Parker.”
It’s easy for a team website staff writer to blame the just fired former assistant. But there is also truth to Walker’s argument.
After playing 521 defensive snaps as a rookie in 2024, Liufau lined up for only 202 defensive snaps during 2025. Meanwhile, his special teams snaps doubled.
It sounds like Liufau is going to play a lot more on defense again during 2026. Nothing is guaranteed, but a position change is a strong sign of the 25-year-old playing a lot more this fall.
Cowboys Edge Rushing Depth Entering 2026 Free Agency
Liufau’s move outside gives Dallas a different feeling around its edge rushing room. Liufau could pair with 2025 second-round pick Donovan Ezeiruaku. Together, they could lead the Cowboys into a new edge rushing era.
But the team has had a pretty big gap at edge rusher since trading Micah Parsons last August. With that in mind, the team would be wise to still address the position this offseason.
The Cowboys have two first-round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. Using one on an edge rusher would really solidify the group.
If Dallas has confidence in Liufau and Ezeiruaku going forward, then it could make more sense for the team to support the young pair with a veteran edge rushing addition.
The Cowboys were last in pass defense during 2025. More pressure on opposing quarterbacks should help.
Dallas finished first in quarterback pressure rate last year. But the Cowboys were only 26th in sacks.