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Todd Archer
FRISCO, Texas — On Wednesday, the first day free agency signings were allowed, the Dallas Cowboys have turned to trades for former first-round picks to help fortify their defense.
The Cowboys have acquired linebacker Kenneth Murray Jr. and a seventh-round pick from the Tennessee Titans for a sixth-round pick, according to a source, while earlier agreeing to a deal for cornerback Kaiir Elam and a sixth-round pick from the Buffalo Bills for a fifth-round pick this year and a seventh-rounder in 2026.
Murray, 26, was a first-round pick of the Los Angeles Chargers in 2020, and in five years he has been credited with 416 tackles and 8.5 sacks. His best tackle season came in 2023 with the Chargers, when he had 107. He had a career-high 3.5 sacks for the Titans last season with 95 tackles in the first year of a two-year, $15.5 million deal.
He is set to make $5.99 million in base salary this year and is due a $1 million roster bonus Sunday.
The Cowboys had Murray, who played at Oklahoma, make one of their 30 national visits before the 2020 draft. Dallas also agreed to a one-year deal with linebacker Jack Sanborn, sources tell ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. He played three seasons for new defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus.
The Cowboys had need for linebacker help with DeMarvion Overshown looking at a long rehab after tearing multiple ligaments in his knee late last season. Last year’s leading tackle, Eric Kendricks, is currently a free agent. Dallas has Marist Liufau and Damone Clark under contract as well.
With Trevon Diggs rehabbing from a chondral tissue graft surgery to his left knee performed in January and facing an uncertain return to the field, Elam helps fill a spot opposite DaRon Bland.
Elam, a first-round pick in 2022 by the Bills, has two interceptions for his career but has not recorded one since his rookie season, and he has been a healthy inactive for games. The Cowboys, however, have a history of taking chances on high draft picks with other teams, hoping a change of scenery will improve the level of play.
Dallas was in discussions with Baltimore Ravens free agent cornerback Brandon Stephens during the exclusive negotiating period before he opted to join the New York Jets, according to sources.
The Cowboys might not be done looking for cornerback help, having lost Jourdan Lewis to the Jacksonville Jaguars on a three-year, $30 million deal that included $20 million guaranteed.
Diggs has been limited to 13 games the past two seasons due to injury. He missed all but two games in 2023 because of a torn ACL in his left knee before his 2024 season ended with an unrelated issue with the same knee.
The rehab for the latest surgery could force Diggs, who signed a five-year extension in 2023, to miss some regular-season games.
In addition to Bland and Elam, Dallas has only Andrew Booth, Kemon Hall and 2024 fifth-round pick Caelen Carson, who is coming back from shoulder surgery, at cornerback.
Elam, 24, is on the final year of his rookie contract.
Source: www.espn.com