AP

DeMarco Murray is still a free agent. But the Cowboys think he’s as good as gone to the division rivals in Philadelphia.

Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that the Cowboys are moving on and talking to other free agent running backs because they expect Murray to sign with the Eagles.

After clearing cap space with moves including trading running back LeSean McCoy to Buffalo, the Eagles have emerged as the favorites to land Murray. Now it appears that the Cowboys know the Eagles are going to give Murray the kind of money Dallas simply doesn’t have the cap space to match.

With Murray in Philadelphia, there will be even more intrigue in next year’s Cowboys-Eagles games. Last year, it was the Cowboys that emerged victorious in the battle for the NFC East. This year, the Eagles think they can get to the top by signing away one of the Cowboys’ best players.