Dallas Cowboys fans have yet to see the best version of DeMarvion Overshown, per himself. The promising linebacker believes his time is coming sooner rather than later — and he isn't the only one.
Overshown has given folks a glimpse of his lofty potential, albeit with a "when physically able" caveat. He's declared himself healthy this offseason and seems eager to prove as much. Put two and two together, and it's easy to see why several passengers are boarding the hype train, including CBS Sports' Zachary Pereles.
Pereles highlighted one "under-the-radar breakout star candidate" for each of the 16 NFC clubs, with Overshown being the Cowboys' representative on the list.
"Perhaps the injuries have taken too much of a toll, but a year-plus removed from the [latest] injury, [Overshown] can be the athletic, talented playmaker the Cowboys desperately need at linebacker," Pereles wrote.
A healthy DeMarvion Overshown can change everything for the Dallas Cowboys
Of course, one cannot tell Overshown's story without acknowledging his unfortunate history of lower-leg injuries. He suffered a torn left ACL in the preseason as a rookie, then went down with right ACL, MCL and PCL tears the next campaign. It's fair to wonder if the Texas native can return to form, as Pereles highlighted, though the upside is too much to ignore.
Before getting hurt again, Overshown was "coming into his own and then some," Pereles wrote, who's ostensibly betting on the 2023 third-round pick's bounce back. For what it's worth, Dallas appears to be making the same wager.
Actions speak louder than words, and the Cowboys have told us they anticipate a strong comeback from Overshown with their activity (or lack thereof). There haven't been any notable outside additions at his position beyond acquiring veteran Dee Winters. They also chose safety Caleb Downs over his former Ohio State teammate, Sonny Styles, in Round 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Passing on Styles to only bring in Winters can be seen as a massive vote of confidence in Overshown. Everyone loves Downs, and understandably so, but the hole in the middle of Dallas' defense was an Achilles' heel in 2025. Nevertheless, the front office looks comfortable taking a leap of faith.
Time will tell whether the Cowboys' optimism pays off. Overshown has been manning the MIKE linebacker spot and wearing the green dot during organized team activities (OTAs) while still playing his usual WILL role. He's entering the fourth and final year of his rookie contract, which adds another layer to this storyline.
Add us as a preferred source on Google