Cowboys have an obvious cut to make after first week of free agency

   

A year after claiming to be all-in, the Dallas Cowboys promised to be "selectively aggressive" this offseason. There is still a long way to go and they certainly aren't a better team than when the season ended, but they have lived up to the selectively aggressive slogan.

The running back position is in good shape following the signings of Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders. Assuming Williams and Sanders compete for the RB2 job, the Cowboys are well-positioned to select their starter in next month's draft.

Other than RB, defensive end and linebacker are the only other positions that have multiple new faces since free agency started.

This roster is nowhere near stacked enough for the front office to cut players willy-nilly, but one release candidate sticks out like a sore thumb after the first wave. Unironically, that player plays a position that has underdone a slight renovation.

Cowboys may cut Damone Clark after recent linebacker moves

Damone Clark is seemingly the odd man out in the linebacker room.

The Cowboys traded for former first-round pick Kenneth Murray and will pay all of his 2025 salary. While Murray only cost a sixth-round pick and Dallas got back a seventh-rounder from the Titans, it is fair to assume he'll have a major role in Matt Eberflus' defense.

Depending on what Dallas does at the position the rest of free agency, Murray could wear the green dot for Eberflus when all is said and done.

The team also signed restricted free agent Jack Sanborn, a high-energy defender who couldn't quite crack the Bears' starting lineup the last three seasons. Sanborn isn't a guaranteed starter, but his familiarity with Eberflus leads us to think he'll play a key depth role.

That leaves DeMarvion Overshown, who could miss most, if not all, of next season as he recovers from a devastating knee injury, and promising second-year man Marist Liufau. Liufau might not be ready to wear the green dot, but he's locked in as a building block of the defense.

The front office probably doesn't have the leeway to cut Clark right this second. That could change on a dime, though, depending on if they re-sign Eric Kendricks or sign another veteran. Furthermore, Alabama stud Jihaad Campbell should be in the mix for Dallas with the No. 12 pick.

Whatever the case may be, the Cowboys likely aren't done adding to their LB room. Eberflus' arrival could be good news for Clark, but he played just 163 defensive snaps last season compared to 784 the year before.

The writing seems to be on the wall for the former fifth-rounder.