A lot went wrong for the Dallas Cowboys in 2025. They disappointed mightily, at least based on owner/general manager Jerry Jones’ expectations.

Jones admitted that the Cowboys “underachieved” by his lofty standards for the club after they were mathematically eliminated from playoff contention. However, he expressed optimism about what lies ahead for the franchise “as far as next year’s concerned,” effectively putting the entire organization on notice.

While Jones thinks they’re ready to compete, the truth of the matter is that they have several needs, specifically on defense. The Cowboys have their work cut out for them to ensure he’s satisfied, because if not, heads will roll. They must upgrade the roster, which in this case is addition by subtraction.

Some spring cleaning could do the Cowboys wonders. They have several expendable players that probably shouldn’t be part of their turnaround efforts. With that in mind, saying goodbye to the four names mentioned below gives them room to bring in talent.

4 Cowboys players who definitely shouldn’t be back in Dallas in 2026

Kenneth Murray Jr., LB

Trading for Murray this past offseason has aged quite poorly for the Cowboys, to say the least. They already brought in someone to replace him, and that didn’t go as planned either, which will be mentioned later.

Murray went from every-down linebacker to rotational piece as soon as reinforcements arrived in Dallas, and for good reason. His 11.5 percent missed tackle rate and 232 yards after catch allowed are a concerning combination. What can the Cowboys depend on him for if he can’t wrap up opponents and is a liability in coverage?

A Houston, Texas native, what looked like a homecoming for Murray unraveled into a presumed unceremonious exit. He became an afterthought in Dallas after just nine games.

Jalen Tolbert, WR

Frankly, there’s no place for Tolbert on the Cowboys. It’s just as much about their other wide receivers as what he has (or hasn’t done). Between stars CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, Ryan Flournoy’s emergence and All-Pro return man KaVontae Turpin, there are already too many cooks in the kitchen.

Lamb and Pickens dominate targets. Flournoy took a significant step forward, specifically as a weapon in the intermediate area and across the middle of the field. Turpin is a dynamic field-stretcher who gets manufactured touches when he isn’t carving up your favorite squad’s special teams unit.

Dallas all but told us that Tolbert won’t be back with their actions. His playing time and usage dropped dramatically from Week 8 on, being a healthy scratch multiple times down the stretch of the season.

Sam Williams, EDGE

Like Tolbert, Williams is a member of the Cowboys’ once-promising 2022 draft class that’s quickly losing its luster. While injuries have played a factor, the latter has failed to live up to his status as a second-round pick.

Williams’ ability to get to the quarterback, or lack thereof, reared its ugly head in the first year of the post-Micah Parsons era. He struggled to see the field consistently for a Cowboys squad that desperately needed someone to generate pressure on the perimeter. His 55.0 Pro Football Focus pass-rushing grade ranked 104th out of 115 qualified edge defenders.

Logan Wilson, LB

Remember when we said the Cowboys moved off Murray in favor of another underwhelming Cowboys transaction? Well, that was Wilson, whom Dallas acquired from the Cincinnati Bengals in exchange for a seventh-round selection in November.

Wilson and Murray split time at the linebacker spot upon joining forces. The former was a slight upgrade, if any, though neither proved themselves capable of being a long-term option for the Cowboys. Now, they both figure to be on the outs in Dallas.

Across seven contests with the Cowboys, Wilson amassed 24 tackles, a pass deflection, and a forced fumble. He’s signed through 2027, but the Cowboys can create roughly $6.5 million in 2026 cap savings while leaving behind no dead money by cutting him.