With training camp approaching within two weeks, one NFL analyst believes the Dallas Cowboys should consider moving on from the $5.7M linebacker if he fails to create a significant impact in his new role in the revamped defense unit.

Moe Moton of Bleacher Report pointed out Marist Liufau as the player that the Cowboys should consider trading before the 2026 season, in exchange for a late 2027 pick.

“Under new defensive coordinator Christian Parker, Liufau will transition to edge-rusher,” Moe Moton of Bleacher Report wrote in his article. "If Liufau struggles with a move to the edge, the Cowboys could shop him before final roster cuts. Teams in need of a rotational pass-rusher may see untapped potential in the 25-year-old at his new position.”

Moton wrote in the Bleacher Report article that the Cowboys could move on from the off-ball linebacker if he fails to deliver in his new position as an edge rusher under new defensive coordinator Christian Parker’s “multiple” defensive scheme.

Liufau was a 2024 third-round pick (No. 87) by the Cowboys and is currently under a four-year, $5.7M contract with an average annual value of $1.42M with the Cowboys.

He has recorded a total of 80 tackles (47 solo), five tackles for loss, five QB hits, 2.5 sacks, and three passes defended, across 34 games played (14 starts) over two seasons with the Cowboys.

While Moton urged the Cowboys to trade Liufau due to a lack of significant impact, Patrick Walker of DallasCowboys.com attributed his inconsistency to a "disconnect" between the former defensive coordinator, Matt Eberflus, and Liufau.

Walker believes that Liufau wasn't allowed to shine despite having an opportunity when starter LB DeMarvion Overshown was placed on injured reserve.

As Liufau transitions to edge rusher, the upcoming training camp could be a deciding factor in evaluating whether Liufau secures his place on the Cowboys roster.

Liufau faces make-or-break 2026 season after position switch

Reid D Hanson of Cowboys Wire believes that Liufau faces a "last-ditch" option with his position shift from LB to edge rusher to save his roster spot with the Cowboys.

"As an outside linebacker, Liufau's pass rushing, coverage, and run fits should be somewhat simplified," Reid D Hanson of Cowboys Wire wrote in his article. " It’s possible his reactionary instincts can thrive in the new role, but the transition is still significant, and third-year position moves are rarely a great endorsement."

Hanson believes that Liufau's "explosiveness off the snap" and physical tools could help him in creating an impact at the edge rusher position, but also warns that it's a "do-or-die" season for Liufau.

Hanson believes that his performance as an outside linebacker in the 2026 season could determine his roster status, considering this to be a final opportunity to prove himself.

What do you think is the future of Marist Liufau in the 2026 season? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Archana Ramakrishnan

Edited by

Rudra Dubey