Latest news with #DeMarvionOvershown
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
NFL execs love elite 3rd-year Cowboy with just 13 games played, makes ESPN Top 10
The Dallas Cowboys' class of 2023 is not a lost cause; not totally. The best draft pick just hasn't been able to find a way to stay on the field. When the club selected Texas linebacker DeMarvion Overshown, it had high hopes and a ton of question marks. Overshown had converted from safety to linebacker at Austin, translating his solid positional speed into elite. The requisite questions about being able to disengage blockers, read plays and handle the wear and tear followed, as they should for a secondary player moving to the front seven. And it's the last concern that has reared its head the most, keeping him from reaching his heights, heights that apparently the entire league is well aware of. Despite losing his rookie season to an ACL, and the last third of his second to another, Overshown appears in the top 10 of the ESPN-led poll of NFL executives for linebackers in 2025. Overshown, despite likely being out until Halloween and implied concerns about just how much he'll be back to normal this coming season, was ranked No. 8 overall. Highest ranking: 4 | Lowest ranking: UnrankedAge: 24 | Last year's ranking: not eligible (rookie) Overshown needed only 12 NFL games to convince a healthy number of voters that he's a high-impact linebacker. "He's absolutely amazing," a personnel exec with an NFL team said. "Ridiculous." "One of the most athletic linebackers I've ever seen," a veteran NFL defensive coach said. "He's the fastest guy out there. Can completely take over a game and was really starting to get it." Added an NFC offensive coach: "He's the second guy you worry about in Dallas, after Micah [Parsons]. Big run-and-hit ability, third-down speed to cover." All that praise comes with a caveat: significant injury concerns. Overshown sat out his rookie season in 2023 because of an ACL tear in his left knee, then sustained a severe injury to his right knee in December 2024, tearing three ligaments (ACL, MCL, PCL). He plans to return at some point in the 2025 season, and that's also Dallas' hope. Multiple voters have serious concerns about whether Overshown can maintain a consistent NFL career because of the damage already done. But his body of work in less than a full NFL season was strong: 90 tackles, 5 sacks, 4 pass deflections, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery. He led the top 10 in average distance run on tackles (18.9 yards). "He can be a stud but has to really improve in zone coverage and when he has to disengage from a block," a veteran NFL defensive coach said. "He can play man-to-man on any RB or TE in the league but zone awareness lacks. He does a great job using his athleticism to slip under blocks but if they get hands on him, it's a problem." The Cowboys have waited a long time for an impact linebacker like Overshown, but fans know they've tried. They spent their 2017 second-round pick on Jaylon Smith, and their 2018 first rounder on Leighton Vander Esch. Both came with injury concerns that bore out in their shortened pro careers. Overshown didn't have those concerns, was drafted in the perfect place to land a linebacker and still the injuries have become an issue. Returning a year after an ACL to play at the level he did offers some hope he can do it again, once he's able to return to the field. The league is certainly aware how much his presence can help the Dallas defense, and that's before the thoughts of new defensive coordinator, noted linebacker-whisperer Matt Eberflus, gets his hands on him. This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Cowboys DeMarvion Overshown ranked No. 8 LB by NFL execs in ESPN poll
USA Today
20-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Ranking all position groups, Cowboys have $127 million in cap spending across in top 3
Dallas did a lot more than it typically does during this most recent offseason. They added a 10-sack veteran defensive end, traded for multiple starting defenders, and added depth to the offensive line and defensive front seven. The Cowboys roster will be outstanding if healthy, with six All-Pros along with Osa Odighizuwa, DeMarvion Overshown, and Cooper Beebe as players who tht kind of potential. Still, the Cowboys have never been able to put together a complete roster like the Philadelphia Eagles or San Francisco 49ers have had over the last few years. While some position groups are spectacular, others have holes in need of step ups. Here are the rankings of Cowboys positions from best to worst. Defensive Ends The edge rushers top the list with Micah Parsons being the superstar supplemented by another double-digit sack artist in Dante Fowler Jr. Three second-round options in Marshand Kneeland, Sam Williams and the recently signed 2025 pick Donovan Ezeiruaku on rookie deals with loads of potential. Dallas has $40 million on the offseason books at the edge. Wide receivers The wideouts rank second, and like defensive end, superstar CeeDee Lamb elevates the entire position. He is paired with a genuine freak show outside receiver in George Pickens, and they combine to be one of the top duos in the NFL. The depth behind them is limited but includes a former second-round pick who has never had quality quarterback play and a speed option who has made a ton of plays on limited touches. Dallas has $35 million on the offseason books at the edge. Quarterbacks Dak Prescott had a down year and another injury, but he was second in MVP voting and an All-Pro in 2023. They finally have a backup with a ton of potential to work after trading for Joe Milton and Will Grier as a veteran QB to try and replicate Cooper Rush's past success. Dallas has $52.5 million on the offseason books at the edge. Linebackers This position has a ton of talent and potential. They are being paired with the top linebacker developer in the NFL, Matt Eberflus, so they should reach their full potential for Dallas. Overshown was voted a top 10 linebacker, but he will be out most of the year. Kenneth Murray, Jack Sanborn, and Marist Liufau all need to step up until he returns, and they all possess the raw talent to do so when channeled correctly. Offensive line Dallas has one of the best interior groups in the league with All-Pro Tyler Smith, first-round pick Tyler Booker, and second-year center Beebe. But the OL isn't in the top three because their tackle play was atrocious in 2024. Terence Steele could bounce back after struggling under former offensive line coach Mike Solari, and Tyler Guyton has the traits to be an excellent left tackle, but he needs to be stronger mentally. They have good depth with Brock Hoffman, T.J. Bass, Robert Jones, and Asim Richards. Tight ends Jake Ferguson had a down season, but injuries to himself and the quarterback were a significant factor in that. Brevyn Spann-Ford is a 6-foot-7, 280-pound blocking option. John Stephens Jr., Rivaldo Fairweather, and Tyler Neville are young players who could stretch the field, and Luke Schoonmaker took a significant jump from his rookie year. The position isn't higher because it's more potential than substance, thus far in their careers. Cornerbacks The corners would be higher, but injuries significantly reduce the ranking. If it's Trevon Diggs, DaRon Bland, Shavon Revel Jr., Josh Butler, and Kaiir Elam with Caelen Carson and Israel Mukuamu as the depth guys, they could be as high as third in these rankings. Where the team stands going into the season is too unknown to put them higher. Running backs Some rankings would have running backs last, but Dallas has figured out the correct way to build the room: acquire cheap veterans and utilize the draft to build out the unit. Looking around the league at how many Day 3 draft picks produce as rookies, Jaydon Blue could do a good job as an explosive runner who can catch the ball. Javonte Williams is young enough to bounce back from injury, and with another year of healing, a better offensive line, and coaching staff, the unit should improve overall as well. Safety Safety is challenging because while many teams would consider starting one of Donovan Wilson, Malik Hooker, Juanyeh Thomas, or Markquese Bell, none of them would be viewed as impactful defenders who could significantly improve a defense. The Cowboys have multiple competent safety options, but no impactful ones. Defensive tackle DT is the worst position on the team, even though Odighizuwa is a top-five pressure player at the position. The issue is that he is a poor run defender, and the team has no quality options to play next to him. Mazi Smith hasn't shown that ability to this point, Jay Toia is a seventh-round rookie at a position that typically takes a few seasons for players to develop, and Solomon Thomas is a more minor player like Odighizuwa, who isn't great as a pass rusher or a run defender. This is the only position where the team has one high-quality starter, and everything else is unknown. You can find Mike Crum on Twitter @cdpiglet or on YouTube at Across the Cowboys podcast
NBC Sports
20-07-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
DeMarvion Overshown provides positive medical update
Cowboys linebacker DeMarvion Overshown tore the ACL, MCL and PCL in his right knee in Week 14, which put his entire 2025 season in jeopardy. Overshown always has had a positive outlook, and it appears the medical staff has given him a positive update. 'Good news from the Doc! We getting active THIS szn,' Overshown wrote on Instagram. It remains to be seen when that will be. Overshown will start training camp on active/physically unable to perform and likely will move to reserve/PUP before the season as he continues his rehab into the season. He tore the ACL in his left knee in the preseason before his rookie season in 2023, missing the season. In 13 games last season, Overshown totaled 90 tackles, an interception, five sacks, four passes defensed and a forced fumble.
USA Today
16-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
NFL execs love elite 3rd-year Cowboy with just 13 games played, makes ESPN Top 10
The Dallas Cowboys' class of 2023 is not a lost cause; not totally. The best draft pick just hasn't been able to find a way to stay on the field. When the club selected Texas linebacker DeMarvion Overshown, it had high hopes and a ton of question marks. Overshown had converted from safety to linebacker at Austin, translating his solid positional speed into elite. The requisite questions about being able to disengage blockers, read plays and handle the wear and tear followed, as they should for a secondary player moving to the front seven. And it's the last concern that has reared its head the most, keeping him from reaching his heights, heights that apparently the entire league is well aware of. Despite losing his rookie season to an ACL, and the last third of his second to another, Overshown appears in the top 10 of the ESPN-led poll of NFL executives for linebackers in 2025. Overshown, despite likely being out until Halloween and implied concerns about just how much he'll be back to normal this coming season, was ranked No. 8 overall. Highest ranking: 4 | Lowest ranking: UnrankedAge: 24 | Last year's ranking: not eligible (rookie) Overshown needed only 12 NFL games to convince a healthy number of voters that he's a high-impact linebacker. "He's absolutely amazing," a personnel exec with an NFL team said. "Ridiculous." "One of the most athletic linebackers I've ever seen," a veteran NFL defensive coach said. "He's the fastest guy out there. Can completely take over a game and was really starting to get it." Added an NFC offensive coach: "He's the second guy you worry about in Dallas, after Micah [Parsons]. Big run-and-hit ability, third-down speed to cover." All that praise comes with a caveat: significant injury concerns. Overshown sat out his rookie season in 2023 because of an ACL tear in his left knee, then sustained a severe injury to his right knee in December 2024, tearing three ligaments (ACL, MCL, PCL). He plans to return at some point in the 2025 season, and that's also Dallas' hope. Multiple voters have serious concerns about whether Overshown can maintain a consistent NFL career because of the damage already done. But his body of work in less than a full NFL season was strong: 90 tackles, 5 sacks, 4 pass deflections, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery. He led the top 10 in average distance run on tackles (18.9 yards). "He can be a stud but has to really improve in zone coverage and when he has to disengage from a block," a veteran NFL defensive coach said. "He can play man-to-man on any RB or TE in the league but zone awareness lacks. He does a great job using his athleticism to slip under blocks but if they get hands on him, it's a problem." The Cowboys have waited a long time for an impact linebacker like Overshown, but fans know they've tried. They spent their 2017 second-round pick on Jaylon Smith, and their 2018 first rounder on Leighton Vander Esch. Both came with injury concerns that bore out in their shortened pro careers. Overshown didn't have those concerns, was drafted in the perfect place to land a linebacker and still the injuries have become an issue. Returning a year after an ACL to play at the level he did offers some hope he can do it again, once he's able to return to the field. The league is certainly aware how much his presence can help the Dallas defense, and that's before the thoughts of new defensive coordinator, noted linebacker-whisperer Matt Eberflus, gets his hands on him.
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
$80 million Cowboy cuts to chase, a 'Sharp defense' is on the way in 2025
With so many offseason changes, the Dallas Cowboys defense looks less like a finished product and more like a blacksmith's forge; sparks flying, heat rising, weapons in the making. One person not rattled by the shift? Defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa, who says this group is in a phase where they're 'sharpening [their] swords.'In a recent, exclusive interview, the newly-minted $80 million man said fans should "expect a sharp defense' as things are already shaping up and key pieces are still on their way back. 'I like the way our defense looks right now,' he told me. 'You got some guys that are on their way back. I'm excited to see what Sam [Williams] does. I'm very, very excited to see what Sam does. We're getting [DeMarvion Overshown] back at some point during the season, so that's gonna be great.' Between bringing in defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus and losing longtime tone-setter DeMarcus Lawrence, a new identity is being crafted. And Osa isn't just here for it, he's helping design it. Advertisement Odighizuwa has always been a lead-by-example guy, but when we talked, he acknowledged stepping into more of a vocal leadership role this year. Not by changing who he is, but by speaking up where it matters. 'I'm not gonna change my style,' he said. 'Just be a little more vocal, speak where I see fit. The good thing is we brought in some good guys that are a little bit older. They've got good heads on their shoulders as well and don't necessarily need someone to follow.' Among those 'good guys' are veteran additions like Solomon Thomas and Kaiir Elam, players Odighizuwa says 'pop out on tape,' put in extra work, and lead by example in their own right. And that extra work is critical this time of year. Odighizuwa made it clear that every member of the defense is held to a certain standard that it's up to them to reach by training camp. 'Especially playing for Coach Eberflus,' he emphasized, 'you gotta be in great shape. You gotta be in championship condition.' Advertisement This defense knows there's no easing into the season. Every rep is a weapon being sharpened. Every meeting, every lift, every film session, it's all preparation for battle. And Osa Odighizuwa? He's not just sharpening his sword. He's helping the whole armory gear up. To hear more from him, including thoughts on leadership, conditioning, and also some surprising anime takes, check out the full interview. Follow Cowboys Wire on Facebook to join in on the conversation with fellow fans! This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Cowboys DT Osa Odighizuwa excited about 'sharp' Eberflus defense
