What happens when you combine poor performance in two seasons to begin a career combined with the Dallas Cowboys opting to completely renovate the very position group in which you play?
You essentially get booted out of the inside linebacker room, as Marist Liufau has experienced. Instead, as Liufau enters his third NFL training camp, he will be playing a brand-new position as the Cowboys are trying him out as a pass rusher.
Something tells me this won't exactly pan out like it did for Micah Parsons, once upon a time. But, this very well might be Christian Parker attempting to give Liufau the benefit of the doubt before ultimately cutting ties in the future.
Cutting ties? With a recent Day 2 pick?
That's certainly in the cards for Liufau, who came to the Cowboys out of Notre Dame as a 2024 third-round pick. But, with the linebacker room getting so crowded, now, it left no room for the former Irish standout.
Oh, and if not for nothing, we did try to warn Cowboys fans that he was, indeed, a reach at pick 87 overall.
Marist Liufau went from Day 2 pick to a fringe Cowboys hopeful in just two seasons
The Cowboys have added a total of eight linebackers over the offseason, highlighted by rookies Malachi Lawrence and Jaishawn Barham along with veteran acquisitions Rashan Gary, Dee Winters and Curtis Robinson.
At this point, the group is in shuffle as Parker tries to figure out who is best suited for playing which particular spot. But, what we do know is, Liufau is no longer on the inside.
In two seasons, Liufau has started a total of 14 games in Dallas and, let's be real ... has been just plain bad.
On the surface, it makes sense to at least try him out as a pass rusher because of how poor he is in coverage. Over his two seasons in Dallas, Liufau has allowed 35 receptions on 39 targets and is nearly giving up a first down every single time he allows a catch (9.5 yards per reception per Pro Football Focus).
He hasn't been all that good against the run, either, if we're being honest. He boasts a missed tackle percentage of 18.4. One out of every five times he has his hands on a ball carrier, they escape.
As an inside linebacker, Liufau has a short leg to stand on making the switch to the outside. During his two seasons, he does have 3.0 sacks and 14 hurries.
But, the Cowboys just couldn't continue allowing him to hurt the defense while playing on the inside.
Now, as he prepares to make the switch, Liufau isn't exactly in the clear for a roster spot there, either. He has to deal with Lawrence, Gary, Donovan Ezeiruaku, James Houston and Sam Williams.
Tyrus Wheat, Isaiah Land and Charles Snowden may or may not make some noise there, too, but the aforementioned names are bigger competition for Liufau.
It is a difficult place to be if you're a recent third-round pick coming out of a school that's produced some great NFL talent. But, Liufau does indeed have a very difficult road ahead. To not be a roster lock, after just two years in the league, is an unfortunate reality he's got to embrace.
Hopefully, for Liufau's and the Cowboys' sake, alike, he does embrace it and surprises us all.
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