In the high-pressure world of the Dallas Cowboys, patience is a luxury the franchise can no longer afford. As the dust settles on a tumultuous 2025 campaign, the focus has shifted sharply to the future. It is not just about adding talent anymore; it is about subtraction.
For the Cowboys to return to contention in 2026, they must make difficult, potentially painful decisions to sever ties with key personnel who have failed to deliver. Based on performance, salary cap implications, and coaching fits, here are the five individuals who should not return to “America’s Team” next season.
1. Offensive Tackle Terence Steele
The “undrafted to starter” story is always heartwarming, but in the NFL, sentimentality doesn’t block pass rushers. Terence Steele has been given six seasons and 91 starts to prove he belongs as a cornerstone right tackle. The verdict? He is a consistent liability.
While capable as a run blocker, Steele has struggled immensely in pass protection, a flaw that is becoming fatal as he approaches 29 years old. With athleticism naturally declining, his inability to seal the edge is a glaring weakness the Cowboys can no longer ignore. Financially, the decision is almost made for them. Steele is set to count over $18 million against the 2026 cap. By cutting him, Dallas can free up nearly $9 million immediately—or $14 million with a June 1st designation—money that is desperately needed elsewhere.
2. Defensive Coordinator Matt Eberflus
The return of Matt Eberflus was supposed to be a reunion that sparked the defense. Instead, it was an “epically bad performance.” Critics have gone as far as to say his tenure “sabotaged” the unit, citing a complete breakdown in communication with stars like Trevon Diggs and a regression across the board.
Despite promising to adjust his scheme to fit the players, Eberflus appeared rigid, forcing square pegs into round holes until the defense collapsed. The unit was the primary reason for losses, and retaining him would signal to the locker room—and the fanbase—that mediocrity is acceptable. A clean sweep of the defensive staff seems inevitable and necessary.
3. Linebacker Kenneth Murray
Sometimes a “fresh start” just means new problems in a different jersey. Kenneth Murray arrived in Dallas looking to revive his career but instead became a symbol of the defense’s dysfunction. Described as a “pet project” of Eberflus, Murray struggled to read plays and lacked the explosive traits required for the modern game.
His performance was a harsh reminder of why the Tennessee Titans traded him for a measly seventh-round pick. With his contract expiring, there is zero justification for a renewal. The Cowboys should let him walk, take the $7.4 million in cap space, and invest in a linebacker who can actually cover ground.
4. Special Teams Coordinator Nick Sorensen
Replacing a legend like John Fassel is never easy, but Nick Sorensen’s tenure has been marked by regression rather than stability. Under his guidance, the return game—once a potent weapon with KaVontae Turpin—became a non-factor.
Coverage units consistently leaked yardage, handing opponents excellent field position that the struggling defense couldn’t defend. Sorensen, a friend and former colleague of offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, may have personal ties to the staff, but professional standards must prevail. If the Cowboys want to win the hidden yardage battle in 2026, they need a new voice leading the special teams room.
5. Safeties Donovan Wilson and Malik Hooker
The safety tandem of Donovan Wilson and Malik Hooker has run its course. Wilson, essentially a linebacker in a defensive back’s body, lacks the coverage skills to be reliable in deep zones. With his contract expiring this spring, his departure feels organic and necessary.
Hooker, meanwhile, still has one year left on his deal but counts $9 million against the cap. Cutting him would save Dallas $7 million—resources that could be used to retain younger, cheaper options like Juanyeh Thomas. Sticking with the same duo that anchored a failing secondary would be the definition of insanity.
The Bottom Line
The 2026 offseason represents a crossroads for the Dallas Cowboys. The roster is bloated with contracts that no longer match production, and the coaching staff is weighed down by schemes that have been exposed. By making these five crucial moves, the franchise can clear cap space, reset the culture, and send a powerful message: Performance is the only currency that matters in Dallas. The time for excuses is over.
