As the NFL approaches the final roster cutdown deadline at the end of August, every franchise faces difficult choices that will reshape careers and depth charts. For the Dallas Cowboys, one name stands out amid a crowded edge-rushing group that has been transformed through free agency, trades, and the draft.
According to Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton, the player the Cowboys should cut before the 2026 season is edge defender Marist Liufau.
Moton points to the team’s significant investment in the position this offseason as the primary reason Liufau’s roster spot appears tenuous.
Dallas already entered the year with holdovers Donovan Ezeiruaku, James Houston, and Sam Williams, the latter of whom was re-signed.
The front office then acquired Rashan Gary from the Green Bay Packers and used a first-round selection on Malachi Lawrence. Those four players—Gary, Lawrence, Ezeiruaku, and Williams—appear locked into roster spots. That leaves Houston and Liufau competing for limited remaining opportunities, and Moton suggests the decision is relatively straightforward.
Liufau’s situation is complicated by a recent positional shift. Originally an inside linebacker, he is transitioning to an edge role under new defensive coordinator Christian Parker.
That change places him in a steep learning curve at a time when the team’s depth is already robust. Meanwhile, Houston has shown more consistent production in a rotational capacity. Last season he finished second on the Cowboys in sacks with 5.5 and generated 19 pressures.
Earlier in his career with the Detroit Lions, Houston notched eight sacks as a rookie, demonstrating the kind of disruptive flashes that can keep a player on the 53-man roster.
Liufau’s path is further hindered by questions about scheme fit. Parker’s defensive system may not align as cleanly with Liufau’s skill set as it does with the established edge group.
Without a standout performance throughout the preseason, the former Notre Dame product could find himself looking for a fresh start elsewhere. At this stage of his career, a change of scenery might actually benefit both sides: the Cowboys can preserve roster flexibility while Liufau seeks an opportunity to develop at his new position with a team that has more available snaps.
Roster construction in the modern NFL rarely allows for excess at any position, especially along the defensive front where special-teams contributions and versatility often decide the final cuts.
Dallas has built a deep and talented group of edge rushers capable of rotating effectively throughout a long season. In that environment, Liufau’s combination of positional inexperience and limited production relative to his competition makes him the most vulnerable name on the current depth chart.
Whether the Cowboys ultimately release him or explore trade options before the deadline, Moton’s assessment underscores how quickly roster priorities can shift when a franchise invests heavily in a single position group.
