It's been a long wait for fans of the Cowboys since the 2021 season ended in the first round of the playoffs. The Cowboys are now holding OTAs (organized team activities) where their rookies finally get integrated with the team's veterans.

One rookie, in particular, is already making his presence known. Undrafted free agent safety Markquese Bell out of Florida A&M, who many believe has a great shot to make the Cowboys' 53-man roster, ended a two-minute drill by intercepting a pass from Cooper Rush intended for Tony Pollard and returned it for a touchdown.

Rookie SS Markquese Bell had the play of the day at Cowboys OTAs with pick 6 off of Cooper Rush. He jumped a goal line out to Tony Pollard, tipped to himself and ran down the sideline to the end zone for a celebration. Probably went out bounds. Keep an eye on him. #FAMU #HBCU

— Clarence Hill Jr (@clarencehilljr) May 25, 2022

OTAs are not the same as a rep in an actual game, and Bell will play against far better quarterbacks than Rush if he makes the team. However, it's an encouraging sign that Bell seems to be adapting to the speed of the NFL game and is diagnosing plays well so far.

Bell is in a prime position to earn a roster spot at the safety position. He'll battle 2021 sixth-round pick Israel Mukuamu and Tyler Coyle, who went undrafted like Bell last year, for a spot in the safety room. The only proven commodities at safety for the Cowboys are Jayron Kearse, Malik Hooker, and Donovan Wilson.

Bell has the size, athleticism, and speed to add his name to that list. During his college days, Bell showed the ability to not only make plays in coverage on the back end but he came down in the box and provided help against the run as well. Bell is a thumper at safety, and it's that trait that could see his role slightly change if he makes the final roster.

Defensive coordinator Dan Quinn turned the Cowboys' defense into one of the league's best in 2021 from being one of the worst the season before. With that, he's earned the trust of many to mastermind the defense of the Cowboys, and if Bell makes the roster, Quinn could use him at another position if need be: linebacker.

“For instance, when I looked at Markquese [Bell], I asked, ‘What would he look like at linebacker? What would he look like down in the box?’. So… I had him meet as a linebacker for that day because I saw the hitting and the contact", Quinn said. "So, I try to always make sure the vision is there for the player. Because, sometimes when a guy gets here, they’re not quite sure what the vision is.”

Bell will likely have to play a lot of special teams to make an impact in his rookie year. The Cowboys, and specifically Quinn, clearly have a plan to maximize his strengths so that he can get on the field as soon as possible.

Feature image via Tori Lynn Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat via Imagn Content Services, LLC