Dallas Cowboys linebacker Marist Liufau (35) blasts into a blocking pad during Organized Team Activities at The Star in Frisco, Texas, June 4, 2026.
Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News
FRISCO — The Cowboys have seen mixed results with third-round picks in the last six drafts.
Among those selections, there has been a pair of full-time starters (OL Cooper Beebe and DL Osa Odighizuwa), another player whose progression has been slowed by injuries (LB DeMarvion Overshown) and others with just so-so results (DL Chauncey Golston and CB Nahshon Wright).
And there’s linebacker Marist Liufau. He was a third-round selection in 2024 and hasn’t missed a game in two seasons, but he enters his third with an uncertain future.
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Liufau was an inside linebacker under previous defensive coordinators Mike Zimmer and Matt Eberflus with little playing time on defense and more work on special teams.
It seems the Cowboys scouts had a better projection for Liufau than the coaching staff. Liufau is an athletic linebacker who could attack ball carriers from different areas on the field. Zimmer played Liufau at middle linebacker his rookie season, and Eberflus pushed him to an off-the-ball linebacker.
“I won’t compare the two,” coach Brian Schottenheimer said of the two previous defensive coordinators. “The minute we got in the room with the defensive staff [linebackers coach Chidera Uzo-Diribe and defensive coordinator Christian Parker] there was a lot of love for Marist. He’s so disruptive with his length.”
Under Zimmer, Liufau played 521 defensive snaps, but last season with Eberflus running the defense, Liufau played more special teams snaps (361) than defensive snaps (202) as Eberflus stuck with Kenneth Murray and Jack Sanborn at middle linebacker. The return of Overshown from knee surgery also took playing time away from Liufau.
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Now under Parker, Liufau is getting a position switch. He’s moving from an inside linebacker position to outside linebacker. So three coordinators, three positions.
Middle linebacker. Off-the-ball linebacker. Outside linebacker.
The Cowboys want to use Liufau’s speed and arm length to rush the passer. To get ready for this role change, Liufau has bulked up because he’s going to deal with tackles much larger than him.
“I’m excited, [it’s] just another opportunity to get on the field,” Liufau said. “At the end of the day, it’s not something I can’t do. I’m excited to really showcase what I can do. I will be fine.”
The Cowboys have viewed Day 2 picks as potential starters who also provide depth, particularly third-rounders.
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This year’s third-rounder, former Michigan defensive end Jaishawn Barham, is being moved to inside linebacker.
Last year’s third-round pick, cornerback Shavon Revel, entered the NFL coming off a torn ACL suffered at East Carolina. Revel enters 2026 as a projected starter opposite DaRon Bland.
Overshown became a rising talent after being drafted in 2023, but he’s had to overcome surgeries to his knees the last two seasons. He enters a contract year moving to middle linebacker with the goal of fulfilling his goals of landing a new deal.
Receiver Jalen Tolbert, a 2022 third-round pick, eventually moved up to No. 3 on the depth chart, but last season he was surpassed by Ryan Flournoy.
When Odighizuwa was drafted in 2021, he emerged as a talented defensive tackle and earned a contract extension. But the Cowboys upgraded the position during the 2025 season, and this offseason Odighizuwa was traded to the 49ers. Two other players drafted in the same round as Odighizuwa (Golston and Wright) are playing with other teams.
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Liufau, with his 47 tackles in two seasons, enters the picture with the goal of earning more playing time as an outside linebacker. It could give the Cowboys more depth at the position and give him a future with the franchise.
“It’s been great so far, I love the guys I’m with, and the [linebacker] room to learn from and grow with our position group,” Liufau said. “Just trying to be a sponge, trying to have a lot of fun. I played on the edge in college. It’s fun getting back to that and refining my skills.”