ESPN gives Tennessee Titans a 'B+' for the Kenneth Murray trade to the Dallas Cowboys
The Tennessee Titans have made some big changes to their inside linebacker corps so far in free agency in hopes of improving their run defense in 2025.
While they did ink Otis Reese to a new one-year deal, the team decided not to tender Jack Gibbens and Chance Campbell and let Luke Gifford leave for the San Francisco 49ers. Tennessee also parted ways with linebacker Kenneth Murray Jr.
The Titans traded Murray and a seventh-round pick to the Dallas Cowboys for a sixth-round selection in the 2024 NFL draft. The move came on the heels of Tennessee signing linebacker Cody Barton away from the Denver Broncos, but it was still a bit of a surprise. Last offseason, Murray was one of the top acquisitions for the Titans during the $228 million free agent spending spree.
While Murray was solid in 2024, he struggled against the run, which was a major issue for the Titans’ defense. This is something that ESPN’s Seth Walder points out in his grade for this trade.
Cowboys trade for LB Murray
Cowboys get: LB Kenneth Murray Jr., 2025 seventh-round pick (No. 239)
Titans get: 2025 sixth-round pick (No. 188)
Cowboys grade: C-
Titans grade: B+
With Eric Kendricks an unrestricted free agent and DeMarvion Overton recovering from tearing multiple ligaments in his right knee, the Cowboys needed to add linebackers. In landing Murray, the Cowboys bring in a veteran who has 67 career starts between his four seasons with the Chargers and one with the Titans.
His numbers aren't ideal, though. Murray's 24% run stop win rate last season ranked fifth worst among off-ball linebackers with at least 300 snaps played. It was a career low for Murray, but he has always been below average in that category.
He showed some pass-rushing skills in Tennessee, with 11 pass rush wins and a 28% pass rush win rate -- a good figure for an off-ball linebacker. But that's a small piece of what he does. His nearest defender coverage metrics are about average, but the run-stopping numbers are a red flag.
The compensation on the trade is almost nothing, but that's not the issue. The problem is that Murray is due $7.5 million in cash this year. That's real money! Quantifying linebackers is difficult, and clearly the Cowboys see something in Murray that our numbers do not. But from what I see, it's tough to justify paying that type of cash to Murray, let alone trading to do it.
As far as the Titans are concerned, I wonder if they were going to keep Murray on the roster. (He has no guaranteed cash due.) If not, they're happy to take a couple of pennies of free draft capital.
With Reese and two other young linebackers, James Williams and Cedric Gray, all gaining some valuable experience at the end of the season, and the addition of Barton, the Titans’ linebacking corps will look different in 2025. Hopefully, this new unit will be better against the run.
This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: ESPN gives Titans a 'B+' for the Kenneth Murray trade to the Cowboys
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