With their first three picks in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys grabbed two offensive lineman and an edge rusher. With the 87th overall pick, they finally addressed their need for a linebacker.
The pick: LB Marist Liufau, out of Notre Dame.
The selection essentially confirmed what many speculated about during the draft process in that Payton Wilson's medical concerns are real as the Cowboys passed on him even though they were picking late in the third.
Liufau will come in to compete in a thin LB room spearheaded by Eric Kendricks that has DeMarvion Overshown returning from injury and Damone Clark fighting to retain a starting role. He's a prospect who shines in coverage (0 touchdowns since 2022, per PFF), which could be very valuable for a Mike Zimmer-led defense that asks its linebackers to do a little bit of everything.
On a related note, Liufau's biggest calling card is his impressive athleticism, checking the boxes for size, length, and explosiveness. In a way, that resembles the theme of Marshawn Kneeland in the second round. The Cowboys are getting Mike Zimmer athletes for his 2024 defense.
Iisha Morrison revealed on 105.3 The Fan that Liufau was said to be calling out the plays before they happened at the Senior Bowl.
"Marist brings very high processing ability and unique movement ability in the open field," says Tyler Browning of A to Z Spors. "He flows sideline to sideline and the ball extremely well. He enjoys contact at the point of attack in the trenches. There are overall lapses in the consistency of his game and he is just an ok coverage guy right now. He brings some much needed physicality and toughness to the LB room right away"
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