Dallas Cowboys decided to ensure that the linebacker situation was maybe resolved when they activated their second pick in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
This was because they had now doubled down on the offensive line in their first three selections.
They selected Marist Liufau of Notre Dame, a tall, rangy linebacker who can cover a lot of ground quickly, with the 87th overall choice.
Round 3, No. 87: Marist Liufau, LB, Notre Dame
There was a lot of interest in him prior to the draft, and he also had an Official 30 visit to Dallas. He will also have the opportunity to learn from both newly-signed former All-Pro linebacker Eric Kendricks and Zimmer.
With a football heritage in his family and a stature of 6-foot-2 and 234 pounds, Liufau hails from Hawaii and has made a name for himself on the national scene for the Fighting Irish.
Being one of the faster linebackers in the draft, he ran a respectable 40-yard dash in 4.64 seconds (70th percentile). His wingspan and arm length combine to make it very difficult for opposing quarterbacks to exploit him. In fact, his most notable NFL comparison is Darius Leonard, and he has been compared to Edgerrin Cooper at Texas A&M in college.
The Cowboys were drawn to Liufau, another former Senior Bowl player, because he has the instincts necessary to play linebacker. There isn’t much guesswork in his game, and his initial stride is decisive and stunning.
When he makes a mistake on a rep, it’s usually because he paused before accelerating toward the play, but once he does, he’s unstoppable.
He plays to the whistle, aggressively discarding attempted blocks en route to what is typically a sound tackle. He views attempted blocks as disrespect. When he gets his hands on them or in an open area, not many ball carriers are able to avoid him.
It’s Sean Lee-esque in terms of physique, IQ, and stature.
In order to avoid overpursuits and surrendering angles that result in bigger plays, he will occasionally need to drop gears in the NFL. However, defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer placed his imprint on this selection for a reason—Zimmer is extremely demanding of linebackers who have the ability to influence games.
The reason for this is that, once he establishes himself in the NFL, Liufau has the potential to become a threat at a position the Cowboys are desperate to fill. However, he still has room to develop into a high-functioning professional, which may happen sooner rather than later.
