Cowboys' draft buzz suggests there are bigger plans for rookie than we think
Ladies and gentlemen, we're here. The portion of the offseason that really feels like the offseason. Free agency frenzy and the 2023 NFL Draft are both officially in the rearview mirror as OTAs are about to kick off all around the country. However, it's still a good time to keep breaking down what the Dallas […]
Ladies and gentlemen, we're here. The portion of the offseason that really feels like the offseason. Free agency frenzy and the 2023 NFL Draft are both officially in the rearview mirror as OTAs are about to kick off all around the country.
However, it's still a good time to keep breaking down what the Dallas Cowboys did and who they picked in the Draft. So let's dive into the latest buzz surrounding the Cowboys as ESPN's insider Jeremy Fowler revealed some insight surrounding America's Team in a recent article:
The Cowboys were closely watching Mississippi State corner Emmanuel Forbes, who went No. 16 overall to Washington. At 26, with tight end Dalton Kincaid off the board, Dallas was deciding between Smith and Syracuse offensive tackle Matt Bergeron. It opted for defense, believing an interior run defender with ability to push the pocket could be a missing piece. And don't sleep on Overshown's ability to play early. He's a well-known hitter, but Dallas thinks he can develop into an all-down linebacker because of his speed.
– Jeremy Fowler, ESPN.com
There's a lot to break down right there but I'll start with the final note. Since the Cowboys were first linked to former Texas Longhorn linebacker DeMarvion Overshown, I've been intrigued about what the team has planned for him.
A third-round linebacker, Overshown shines because of his noteworthy range and explosion. A former safety, he could be seen by defensive coordinator Dan Quinn as a hybrid type player.
Especially with safety Jayron Kearse about to enter a contract year, I speculated about the possibility of the Cowboys looking at Overshown as a hybrid, position-less defender like Kearse. Although he's listed as a safety, Kearse's assignments often are those of a linebacker as he plays in the box, oftentimes near the line of scrimmage with a heavy involvement in the team's run fits. Sometimes he's basically the nickelback in Quinn's three-safety defensive look, too.
Here's what I wrote about Overshown's potential role as a rookie in a recent article predicting each rookie's role in 2023:
"Overshown's role on defense is somewhat hard to nail down just yet. Keep in mind, the Texas LB is a former safety. That means Dan Quinn could be looking at him as a potential Jayron Kearse replacement or as some sort of hybrid defender. For now, I've got him as LVE's and Damone Clark's backup at linebacker.
However, Overshown is set to play a monumental role on special teams. Luke Gifford led the Cowboys with a 77% snap count last year and those have to be replaced by somebody after Gifford left for the Tennessee Titans. Enter Overshown."
Based on Fowler's insight, however, that might not be the plans the Cowboys have in store for Overshown though. The NFL insider from ESPN claims the team looks at him as a potential all-down linebacker. One thing is for certain: The linebacker room in Dallas is thin so opportunities could come Overshown's way early in his career.
Also of note on the report is the fact that the Cowboys were targeting Emmanuel Forbes, who ended up being drafted by the NFC East rivals Washington Commanders at 16th overall. Although Forbes was a Top 30 visit for the team, he definitely wasn't a player that was linked to the team's 26th overall pick very often.
We already knew about the team's decision between DT Mazi Smith and OT Matthew Bergeron thanks to a War Room video the Cowboys released but it feels like we still don't know if the front office wanted Dalton Kincaid before the Buffalo Bills traded up ahead of them. I tend to think the team would've still gone with Mazi if both were available.
