Dallas Cowboys select Marist Liufau in third round of 2024 NFL Draft

With the No. 87 pick in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys selected linebacker Marist Liufau out of Notre Dame.

Luifau had one of his best seasons in a Fighting Irish uniform in 2023. In 12 games, he logged 44 tackles (23 solo), 6 tackles for loss and 3 sacks. He also had 2 pass breakups, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

Dallas selected offensive lineman Tyler Guyton out of Oklahoma with the No. 29 pick in the first round. They traded down from No. 24, swapping with the Detroit Lions and picking up No. 73 overall. The team selected edge rusher Marshawn Kneeland with pick No. 56, then offensive guard Cooper Beebe at No. 73.

Free agency deteriorates Dallas’s roster

The Dallas Cowboys entered the 2024 NFL Draft with a variety of needs after a very quiet free agency period. Short on cap space, Jerry Jones and the front office let RB Tony Pollard, OT Tyron Smith, DT Johnathan Hankins, DE Dante Fowler Jr., DT Neville Gallimore, C Tyler Biadasz, DE Dorance Armstrong Jr., and CB Noah Igbinoghene walk. They also released wide receiver Michael Gallup and linebacker Leighton Vander Esch, the latter for medical reasons.

Since the start of the league new year, Dallas has re-signed very few of their free agents. They signed long snapper Trent Sieg, running back Rico Dowdle, offensive tackle Chuma Edoga and cornerbacks Jourdan Lewis and CJ Goodwin. They all inked new one-year deals. The Cowboys did make two new free agency additions before the draft, signing veteran linebacker Eric Kendricks and running back Royce Freeman to one-year deals.

More on Cowboys 2024 NFL Draft picks

The Cowboys came into the 2024 NFL Draft with seven selections. They had four of their original picks (RD1.PK24, RD2.PK56, RD3.PK87, and RD7.PK244). Dallas also received two compensatory picks (RD5.PK174, RD6.PK216). They also acquired a seventh-round pick (RD7.PK233) via trade with the Raiders. The only round the team did not have a selection in coming into the draft was the fourth. They added pick No. 73 in the third round by trading down with the Lions from No. 24 to No. 29.

The Cowboys sent a fourth-round pick to the 49ers last year for former first-round QB Trey Lance. They also gave a fifth-round pick to the Chiefs for a six-round pick in last year’s draft, with which they drafted cornerback Eric Scott Jr. They gave up a sixth-round pick to Houston in exchange for wide receiver Brandin Cooks last offseason as well.

The 2024 NFL Draft, which began Thursday, April 25, continues through Saturday, April 27 in Detroit, Michigan. The draft broadcast runs throughout the weekend on both ESPN and NFL Network.