The Dallas Cowboys dumped just about every available resource into their defense this offseason, and it was needed. Not only did they have the worst defense in the league, but the Cowboys also allowed a franchise-record 511 points. Their previous high was 473 points, which came in 2020 during the COVID season and in the Mike Nolan era.
The hope is that the additions of players like Caleb Downs, Malachi Lawrence, Jalen Thompson, and Dee Winters will be enough to get the unit back on track. And if Christian Parker is as good as everyone thinks, maybe this is a unit that could surprise the rest of the league.
However, the only way the Cowboys will truly take a step forward is if some of the veterans on the roster take big steps forward. They will need 3-4 players to have career years if they want to turn the defense around. And one player who has the chance to change all of the angles in Dallas is none other than DeMarvion Overshown.
DeMarvion Overshown could drastically alter Cowboys’ defense in 2026
In a recent article by Benjamin Solak of ESPN, he named one breakout candidate for every NFL team. For the Cowboys, that player was none other than Overshown, who is entering a very critical contract year. Despite playing just 13 career games, many believe he is poised for a huge season and could earn a big deal in 2027.
Solak is clearly in that camp as he believes Overshown is one of the most important players for the Cowboys on the defensive side of the ball. However, there are still some major concerns about Overshown going into the 2026 season. Here is a snippet of why Solak believes Overshown can be a star this season, but also why it’s fair to be a bit skeptical of him going into the year:
“Overshown did not look like himself after returning last season in Week 11 -- he had only one TFL in six games after posting eight in 13 games during the 2024 season. He cleared 19 mph in top speed seven separate times in the 2024 season, per NFL Next Gen Stats; he never cleared it in 2025. As he gets further away from the injury, he'll hopefully recover the top speed that allowed him to play sideline to sideline and trigger quickly on those behind-the-line opportunities.”
This is the first year that Overshown is completely healthy going into training camp since his rookie year (2023). He’s not recovering from any sort of injury, and he should be full go for the first time in his NFL career. However, expect the Cowboys to be somewhat cautious with him during camp, as they obviously know his injury history, and that could mean several veteran “rest days” throughout camp.
It’s no secret that linebacker is a question mark for the Cowboys going into the 2026 season. The addition of Dee Winters on top of Jaishawn Barham gives them more options than last year, but Overshown is the most talented player on the depth chart. We’ve seen flashes of brilliance from him in the past, but now it’s up to him to prove that he can stay healthy and get back to being a consistent and reliable player.
If Overshown can do that, there is no telling how much this unit could improve in 2026. As previously mentioned, linebacker is the biggest weakness on the roster, and if the Cowboys can solve that issue with Overshown, they have a chance to have a pretty solid defense. It’s not going to be a dominating unit by any stretch, but that’s not the goal here.
Keep an eye on Overshown throughout training camp and preseason, as his success could be a harbinger for the Cowboys in 2026. If he lights it up, maybe this team will have a chance to make noise in January.
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