Former Chargers top pick is falling apart with no sign of recovery

There are a number of teams out there that are consistently willing to take on former high draft selections and see if they can squeeze out the potential others simply couldn't. The Dallas Cowboys are one of those teams, and they've given an opportunity this season to former Los Angeles Chargers first-round linebacker Kenneth Murray Jr.

Murray is one of a number of former high draft picks getting a shot to prove himself in Dallas this year, and his audition might not last much longer.

The Cowboys are set to bring promising young player Demarvion Overshown off of IR in the near future, and whenever he returns to action, it might be over for Murray with his latest opportunity.

Former Chargers 1st-round pick Kenneth Murray on thin ice with Dallas Cowboys

Chargers fans do not have the fondest memories of Kenneth Murray during his four years with the team, to say the least. The frustration with Murray really reached a peak in his last year with the team, where he was the worst the Chargers had ever seen him in coverage, allowing more than 10 yards per catch when he was the closest player in coverage, as well as giving up a career-most three touchdowns.

The Chargers let Murray walk in free agency after his rookie deal expired, and it was something they anticipated when they decided not to pick up his fifth-year option.

The Titans picked him up as a possible reclamation project in 2024, and then traded him to Dallas for a 2025 6th-round pick.

The Cowboys have obviously utilized Murray heavily up to this point, giving him the starting job with Overshown recovering from injury. He's played 99 percent of the defensive snaps for the Cowboys so far this season, but the results really speak for themselves.

Obviously, individuals are capable of playing well even without a unit having success, but Murray has been part of one of the worst defenses in the NFL so far this season, and the Cowboys fan base really can't wait to see Overshown back on the field.

Quarterbacks have completed over 83 percent of throwns (25-of-30) into Murray's coverage so far this season, the highest completion rate he's allowed since his second year in the NFL with the Chargers. And that is one of a number of areas where many believe Overshown is going to be an upgrade for this team.

Another area Murray has consistently struggled with is playing with reckless aggression instead of using instincts. His four tackles for loss so far are on par with what he usually gets, but his desire to make those big splash plays behind the line of scrimmage can also get him out of position far too often.

Even if it was just a late pick, the Murray trade is looking like a whiff by the Cowboys, and once they get healthy, they're probably going to keep him on the sideline.