SHAKE-UP: Dallas Cowboys MOVE Marist Liufau, TJ Bass TRADE Rumors HEAT Up At NFL Combine!

Summary

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Locked On Cowboys – "SHAKE-UP: Dallas Cowboys MOVE Marist Liufau, TJ Bass TRADE Rumors HEAT Up At NFL Combine!"

Hosts: Marcus Mosher & Landon McCool
Date: February 27, 2026

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Episode Overview

This episode centers on significant Dallas Cowboys roster developments discussed at the NFL Combine, with special focus on Brian Schottenheimer’s recent press conference. The primary topics are position changes for Marist Liufau and Donovan Azaraku, and trade/roster implications for interior lineman TJ Bass and Brock Hoffman. The hosts deliver in-depth analysis of these moves, reflecting on the team's defensive and offensive roster-building strategies for the coming season.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Marist Liufau Moved to Outside Linebacker

• [01:38-06:30]
  • News: Brian Schottenheimer announced Marist Liufau and Donovan Azaraku will play outside linebacker in Christian Parker’s new defense.
  • Analysis:
    • Liufau was drafted as an off-ball linebacker, but now shifts outside—indicating Parker and staff don't view him as a fit inside.
    • Landon points out Liufau’s physicality and straight-line attacking are better suited to the edge, especially given scheme needs, but tempers expectations for a breakout.
    • Marcus highlights the broader concern: Dallas is thin at off-ball linebacker with multiple players (Kenneth Murray, Jack Sanborn, Damone Clark) hitting free agency, leaving only DeMarvion Overshown and Shemar James. Shifting Liufau doesn’t help depth at a position of need.
    • Sense is the move is a last-ditch fit attempt—a "throw stuff at the wall" strategy.
    • Landon underlines Liufau’s special teams contributions as his key to making the 53-man roster.
  • Notable Quote:

    "That was a very nice and political way of saying hey, we don't know what to do with this guy. We're just, we're throwing things against the wall..."
    — Marcus Mosher [04:08]

  • Memorable Moment:
    • The hosts compare Liufau’s situation to the annual “wide receiver five/six” camp battles ("It really doesn't matter what your role is on defense… he's going to make this team if he's good on special teams." — Marcus, 06:30).

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2. TJ Bass, Brock Hoffman, and Potential Trades

• [09:26-12:23]
  • News: Following praise from Schottenheimer, Dallas placed a second-round tender on TJ Bass, guaranteeing him $5.8M for 2026—a significant sum for a backup guard.
  • Context: Interior OL depth has been a Cowboys' strength; both Bass and Hoffman have played key reserve roles.
  • Discussion:
    • Landon suggests the heavy investment means one (Bass or Hoffman) is likely trade bait. Keeping both under second-round tenders would cost nearly $14M.
    • Both hosts agree Bass is the more valuable player and trade asset—he’s seen as a starting-caliber guard in the NFL.
    • Trade Value: Landon at first proposes late Day 2 (third round), Marcus argues early Day 3 (fourth round) is more realistic.
    • Potential scenarios: Packaging picks to move into the third round for defensive help; teams like the Raiders mentioned as likely partners.
    • Both are mildly curious if Bass could ascend to a starting role if not traded.
  • Notable Quotes:

    "It's a lot of money to have to spend—what would it be, almost $14 million for both of them to be on the second-round tender?"
    — Landon McCool [10:30]
    "Of the two, which one do you think would get more in a trade and which would you prefer to have back in 2026?"
    — Marcus Mosher [11:31]
    "The answer to both, I think, is Bass... I think that Bass is more of a true guard. Hoffman could play guard in certain, maybe more zone-based schemes... but Bass really is better than a starting-level guard in the NFL."
    — Landon McCool [11:39]
    "I think you get an early day three pick is probably what's fair here."
    — Marcus Mosher [12:18]

  • Memorable Moment:
    • Speculating about using a trade to acquire more draft capital, with Marcus painting a fourth-round trade-up scenario into the third for a linebacker or slot player.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Liufau position switch:

  "It's hard to make any sort of argument that you're getting the value that you expected. And it certainly doesn't bode well that he's being moved away from the position that he was drafted to play."
  — Landon McCool [05:00]

• On the challenge for down-roster players:

  "It really doesn't matter what your role is on defense and how well you play that position. He's going to make this team if he's good on special teams."
  — Marcus Mosher [06:30]

• On roster investment:

  "If they are managing to put tenders on both of these guys, one of them will likely be used as trade bait…"
  — Landon McCool [10:26]

• On trade scenarios for Bass:

  "I could see a team like the Raiders being like, okay, hey, we'll give you our fourth-rounder if you give us Bass and a sixth-rounder. And I think the Cowboys would be interested in that."
  — Marcus Mosher [12:47]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:38: Start of main show, intro to roster moves & context
• 02:41: Liufau/Moves to OLB — Initial analysis
• 04:08: “We don’t know what to do with this guy” — Marcus Mosher on Liufau’s fit
• 06:30: Special teams as the path for roster fringe players
• 09:26: Schottenheimer praises Bass and Hoffman; talk shifts to tenders/trade possibilities
• 11:31: Which of Hoffman/Bass is more valuable and preferred?
• 12:47: Trade scenario brainstorming for draft capital

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Summary

This episode gives Cowboys fans insight into crucial depth chart changes—especially the attempt to salvage value from Marist Liufau by moving him outside. The hosts raise flags about Dallas' thin off-ball linebacker depth and voice skepticism Liufau’s switch can stick. Meanwhile, the team’s investment in TJ Bass and Brock Hoffman, and the likelihood one is traded, hint at ongoing roster reshaping and the importance of leveraging strengths (offensive line depth) to address weaknesses (defensive and linebacker depth) via the upcoming draft. The discussion is sharp, realistic, and delivers clear context for why each move matters as the Cowboys enter a pivotal offseason.

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Transcript

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[Marcus Mosher]

Schottenheimer spoke to the media on Thursday and he had some very interesting things to say about some down roster players. We'll get to that next.

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You are Locked on Cowboys, your daily Dallas Cowboys podcast, part of the Locked On Podcast network. Your team every day.

[Marcus Mosher]

Welcome back to the Locked on Cowboys podcast, part of the Locked On Podcast network. Your team every day. We'd like to thank you for making us the number one sports podcast network. And today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Use your profit boost on an NBA future and get entered for a chance to win a trip to the NBA Finals. Play your game with FanDuel, the official sports betting partner of the NBA. Welcome back. I am your host, Marcus Mosher. He is Landon McCool and on today's show we are covering Brian Schottenheimer's press conference during Thursday's media availability. And one of the more interesting notes is that he mentioned that Donovan Azaraku and Maris Liafou are going to be outside linebackers in Christian Parker's defense. We knew that with Esseraku he was always going to play on the edge. But Leopard, this is certainly a change. He was drafted to be an off ball linebacker in Mike Zimmer's defense, really fell out of favor in Matt Eberflus's defense and now he's going to the edge. What are your thoughts?

[Landon McCool]

Yeah, you know, it makes some sense. You know, I think they, you know, they, they probably like the player. They like the way he, you know, is what he does in special teams. But he may not be a Great fit necessarily as an inside linebacker in this scheme. He does have some good length. He is good being a physical player. You know, he's better as an attacker moving forward. So I think it makes some sense to, to try him out at, at outside line, at outside linebacker. Because you have to think like outside linebacker in these situations where you're thinking just pass rusher but, but these guys do a lot. They end up dropping into zones. They, they're obviously strong against the run. And especially if you're playing the right, the correct side, you may end up going against a tight end which is very similar to what, you know, we've seen Leo Fowl do a little bit as an outside linebacker at a 43 as well. So I think it makes some sense. I don't know that it's something that we're gonna get, that we should get super excited about or that, you know, we've unlocked some player that hasn't been there before or you know, that there's going to be even a hint of a Micah Parsons type of transition here. I think this is a case where they've got a cheap labor on, on a guy that they like and, and they are trying to find a way to make him fit in this defense. It doesn't necessarily bode well that it's going to work but you know, they're, they're trying stuff that was a very

[Marcus Mosher]

nice and political way of saying hey, we don't know what to do with this guy. If we're just, we're throwing things against the wall and see what I mean? I think the bigger story and everybody's talking about him moving the edge and the fit. To me the bigger story is you're moving him away from being an off ball linebacker on a team that desperately needs off ball linebackers. Right now you've got the Marvio Nova shown in the last year of his deal. He can't stay healthy. You've got Shemar James and that's basically it. Because Kenneth Murray. Murray, Jack Sanborn and Damone Clark are all free agents. It's pretty, pretty clear that Parker doesn't think he's an off ball linebacker. Maybe they feel like he can give them more numbers at the edge position. But I think needless to say it's going to be a struggle for him to make the 53 man roster. And I don't think it's a given that he's on this team in week one.

[Landon McCool]

Yeah, I mean, you know, I, I think that's fair. It certainly it's Hard to make any sort of argument that he. You're getting the value that you expected. And it certainly doesn't bode well that he's being moved away from the position that he was drafted to play.

[Marcus Mosher]

And this happens right when you have three different schemes and three different defensive coordinators in three straight years. Like players are going to fall through the cracks and guys that were drafted in previous games aren't going to fit this one. I'm sure they're doing this just to give them some more numbers at a position that needs them. It's unfortunate, but it happens.

[Landon McCool]

Yeah. And it's. It's not the end of the world for him. I. I think it's just a situation where he just doesn't necessarily fit with what they're trying to do. And look, I mean, we talked about it. Honestly, when, when I thought about Leo Fowl in this defense, I thought, you know, maybe you'll see him have a little bit more success because they'll be doing a lot of sim pressure stuff and maybe they send him on a lot more blitzes. And I think that's the thing that I've seen him have the most success at, is when he has a job, he's a point and shoot linebacker. Right. Like when he has a job to do, he does it well. When he sees the, when he sees the guy with the ball running this way, he pulls the trigger, gets downhill and makes the tackle. He's very good at that. I think it's the instinctual stuff that he struggles with. And if you're asking him to play on the outside a little bit, I think that maybe limits his assignments. It makes it easier for him. It allows him to do what he does best. Is it enough to make him actually valuable enough to keep on the team? We'll find out.

[Marcus Mosher]

Well, it reminds me a lot of when we have these discussions during training camp about like wide receiver five and wide receiver six.

[Landon McCool]

Exactly.

[Marcus Mosher]

It really doesn't matter what your role is on defense and how well you play that position. He's going to make this team if he's good on special teams. If he's not on special teams, probably doesn't matter what he's doing at linebacker or edge rusher. That is his path right now to making this team in 2026. Let's talk about TJ Bass, who Brian Schottenheimer called out in a positive way in his press conference. We'll get to that next. This episode is brought to you by fanduel. Have you ever wanted to experience The NBA Finals live and in person. FanDuel is giving you the chance to turn that dream into reality with their NBA sweepstakes. And here's how it works. Use your profit boost on any NBA future and you'll automatically be entered for a shot to win a trip to the NBA Finals for two. That's right, flights, tickets, the whole experience. And if you're already looking at the board thinking about which teams can make a deep run, this is the perfect time to lock in. I love this time of year for the basketball because, you know, first of all, we just get to focus on basketball for the next three months. Plus, now we're past the All Star break. The action's really heating up. So visit FanDuel.com to get started and use your profit boost on an NBA future and get entered for your chance to win a trip to the NBA Finals. So play your game with FanDuel, the official sports betting partner of the NBA. This episode is brought to you by Five Hour Energy. Welcome to the Five Hour Energy flavor draft. With 18 different flavors to choose from, including new options like Confetti, Craze, fruity rainbow or cotton candy. There's something for everyone. The board is set, the flavors are ready, and I've got my number one pick for the five Hour Energy Flavor Draft. I'm going back to my trusty old favorite cherry. I love the way that it tastes. It has a bold cherry candy like flavor. It's sweet with a little bit of a tart edge to it, but it has a nice, nice, smooth and easy to recognize finish. So find your new favorite flavor of five hour energy shots available online at 5hourenergy.com or on Amazon. It's the perfect time to dive in because five Hour Energy shots give you a boost of energy with zero sugar and zero crash. Again, go to five hour energy.com or check them out on Amazon. Foreign to the Lock on Cowboys podcast. We'd like to thank you for making us your first listen every single day. All right, Brian Schottenheimer. Landon talked about TJ Bass and Brock Hoffman, how we'd like to have both those guys back. And as soon as he was done talking, the Cowboys put the second round tender.

[Landon McCool]

That's funny.

[Marcus Mosher]

Which is going to guarantee him $5.8 million for the 2026 season. That is a lot of money for a backup guard, but I get it. He's a good player.

[Landon McCool]

Yeah. I mean, look, I think when you talk about the strengths and weaknesses of this team, one of the things that really kind of Helped this offense run, was having a strong interior and I, I think there were injuries at certain points, guys who were playing banged up. But the Cowboys were able to kind of consist consistently play with a strong front of their pocket because they had TJ Bass, they had Brock Hoffman. So that when folks went down with injury, they were able to keep rolling with really high quality players who knew the scheme. So there's certainly value here. And, and you know, we talked about it on the squad show with coach. There's a sit. You know, this is a situation where the Cowboys have a lot of talent at this very one position. It's kind of concentrated here. I have a feeling that if they are managing to, to put tenders on both of these guys that one of them will likely be used as trade bait. I, I mean I don't think for maybe a ton necessarily, but I think that it's certainly something that is, has to be kept in mind because again, like it's a lot of money to, to have to spend. What would it be like something almost $14 million for both of them to be on the second round tender. So yeah, I, I think that they're, they're certainly very valued backups not only to the Cowboys and I think that that's something that they will keep in mind when they need all the assets they can get their hands on to rebuild this defense. If they can flip one of their offensive assets to create opportunity for the defense, I think it makes some sense

[Marcus Mosher]

of the two Brock Hoffman and Bass, because I'm with you. Like, I just don't see them paying just under 14 million for two guys that you hope aren't playing on Sunday.

[Landon McCool]

Right? Yeah.

[Marcus Mosher]

Of the two, which one do you think would get more in a trade and which one would you prefer to have back in 2026?

[Landon McCool]

The answer to both, I think, is Bass. Unfortunately. I, I think the Bass is, you know, more of a true guard. Right. I think you could probably convince yourself that Hoffman could play guard in certain, you know, maybe more zone based schemes. Right. But I think, you know, Hoffman, Bass place guard really is better than a starting level guard in the NFL. Right. I think that's, that's what you could get for trading for, for Bass. So I think that you could get a, I thought that you could get a very late day, day two pick like the third round. You and I having talked about it, maybe you've talked me off of that ledge.

[Marcus Mosher]

I think, I think you get an early day three pick is probably what's fair here.

[Landon McCool]

That's probably what we're triangulating between the two of us, right, is a fourth round pick and I think that that's fair. I mean, look, you don't have a second and third round pick. Obviously you would love to get one of those back. Getting two fourth round picks maybe gets you close to it or at the very least kind of helps you supplement it a little bit. Well, you're still getting, you know, those fourth round picks have still been pretty successful for you at certain points.

[Marcus Mosher]

And I could see a team like the Raiders being like, okay, hey, we'll give you our fourth rounder if you give us Bass and a six rounder. And I think the Cowboys would be interested in that, right? If they could get another top 150 pick and maybe put those two fourth round picks together to move up into the third round to get a linebacker or corner or a slot guy, I could see that maybe that's how the trade gets done. I am like 5% curious to see if Bass is somebody that they view as an eventual starter and maybe they figure out a way to get him into the lineup. I don't know. But a lot of interesting things are going to happen over the next two weeks with TJ Bass and Brock Hoffman. So stay tuned. That is it for today's show. We would like to thank you for making Locked on Cowboys your first listen every single day. And if you never miss an episode, the everyday club is built for you. Get Locked on Cowboys ad free plus members only, Discord Access and so much more. Go to LockedOn cowboys.supercast.com to join the club. And for those of you on video, we can send you the first ever 24. 7 national NBA YouTube channel and on audio. Make your second listen the lot. NFL Draft podcast. Follow Landon on Twitter @McCool BCB I'm @Marcus Underscore Moser and we'll see you right back here on Monday.

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