The Dallas Cowboys may have already revealed the winner of their most important position battle before training camp
The Dallas Cowboys face a lot of pressing questions on defense but they may have revealed the answer to the most important one. And it could change everything.
In the eyes of fans and media members, the Dallas Cowboys defense faces a serious question: Who will be the team’s middle linebacker when the season starts?
It’s a question fueled by the fact that the Cowboys lack an experienced middle linebacker, or MIKE, on the roster. And while a battle to lead the defense will still take place, the Cowboys are making it sound like there’s already a winner before Week 2 of OTAs even begins. And it’s a rather surprising one.
DeMarvion Overshown reveals MIKE plans
The Cowboys linebacker situation took a significant turn during the second week of OTAs. DeMarvion Overshown, the explosive third-year linebacker, appears to be the odds-on favorite to take on the MIKE role and the green dot responsibilities that come with it.
According to him, it’s all part of a plan set in motion right after the NFL Draft.
“It was really when he got here after the draft and we started meeting,” Overshown told reporters. “It was just like, ‘we’re going to figure it out, but ultimately we want you to be our guy that everybody is hearing before each play.”
The Cowboys are clearly planning on a competition, as Overshown is also training at WILL (a role he’s more familiar with) and multiple players are rotating at MIKE. But for Overshown to say new defensive coordinator Christian Parker told him that’s the plan is a huge indicator of where this is going.
“I’ve been wanting to be Mike for the longest time, ever since my rookie year,” Overshown added. “I kind of felt like the time would come where I wore the ‘C’ on my chest and had the green dot. Now I’ve got it, so I’m excited.”
The decision carries major implications for Dallas and defensive Parker’s new scheme, particularly because Overshown has spent most of his NFL career playing weak side linebacker.
Why the move is surprising
Overshown run-and-hit profile made him a natural fit at WILL, where he could play freely without worrying about the communication demands and processing requirements of the mike position. Many analysts and fans believed Dallas would keep him there.
If he’s indeed moved to MIKE in the regular season, Overshown will have to show more patience and physicality to be a run stopper in the middle of the defense. All while taking on the communicator role.
Some will worry the shift could keep him from tapping into his elite athleticism and range. In his eyes, being at the heart of the lineup is a positive change even in that sense.
“I’m not running from sideline to sideline,” Overshown said. “Maybe I’m running from the middle of the field to the sideline. So that’s more tackles for me. I’m protected on both sides now, so I can just play free. [. . .] You put me in the middle so I can take care of both sides of the field.”
Cowboys battle not over yet
To be clear, this is not a final decision. Shemar James and Dee Winters also rocked the green dot on Tuesday, according to DMN’s Calvin Watkins. Parker appears to be evaluating every option, as he said he would do earlier in the year.
That said, the process of elimination also favors Overshown. You don’t want Barham wearing the green dot as a rookie when he’s still learning the NFL game. Winters may not project as an every-down player in this defense. And while James showed flashes of athleticism in his first season, he hasn’t done enough to warrant betting on him for such a critical role heading into the summer. Not without seeing him in camp first.
Overshown, by contrast, broke out in 2024 largely because of his explosiveness, range, and acceleration. The question now becomes whether he can channel those traits within a more patient framework.
Parlay that with Overshown’s words about Parker’s plan, and it’s starting to look like we know exactly who will be this team’s MIKE.