NFL Rumors: Cowboys wanted CB who landed with rival, Dallas has big plans for mid-round pick

One of the biggest takeaways from the Dallas Cowboys' 2023 draft was that Dan Quinn's influence is significant and perhaps growing even stronger.

Despite boasting one of the league's top defenses and re-signing multiple key free agents and trading for Stephon Gilmore, the Cowboys went out and used three of their first four picks on defensive players, including Michigan nose tackle Mazi Smith in the first round.

ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler (subscription required) revealed as much about Quinn in his latest post-draft roundup of all 23 teams, saying that "when their defensive coordinator has a vision for a player, the Cowboys typically see see that through by selecting him if available."

The sheer respect for and trust in Quinn suggests Dallas hopes to keep him around -- perhaps as head coach -- for the foreseeable future.

Third-round pick DeMarvion Overshown is a prime example of that. In position to draft a running back, receiver or offensive linemen, the Cowboys invested another high pick (No. 90 overall) in the Texas linebacker.

While Overshown is raw, his athleticism sticks out when watching film and Fowler revealed Dallas has big plans for the former Longhorn.

Cowboys are high on 2023 third-round pick DeMarvion Overshown

Fowler understands Overshown will play a lot as a rookie, but also that the Cowboys believe he can develop "into an all-down linebacker because of his speed" under Quinn's tutelage.

Quinn's defense is all about rallying to the football and hitting ball-carriers. It needs versatile players who can both dissect plays as they happen and fly to the football. That's Overshown in a nutshell. Though drafted as a linebacker, he was recruited as a safety before switching to LB before his third season.

Overshown donned many hats in the Texans' defense, including as an outright inside linebacker, playing off the edge in space and dropping into the box. He can run stride-for-stride in coverage against receivers and tight ends to boot.

Overshown likely won't play heavy snaps right away, but Quinn clearly has a vision for the player and it wouldn't be surprising if he eventually supplanted Damone Clark as the starting WILL (weakside) linebacker with Leighton Vander Esch.

Cowboys targeted Mississippi State CB Emmanuel Forbes in first round

Fowler's final nugget is perhaps the most interesting.

Per the insider, the Cowboys were "closely watching" Mississippi State corner Emmanuel Forbes in the first round. Though Forbes was considered a first-round lock, Washington surprised just about everyone by taking him 16th overall, ahead of Oregon standout Christian Gonzalez.

This begs the question of whether Dallas would have taken Forbes at No. 26 overall, or if they would've entertained trading up for the playmaking corner had he been available a couple of picks away.

A top-30 visit with the Cowboys, Forbes notched six interceptions in 2022, including three returned for a touchdown, and he set an FBS record with six pick-sixes in his career. It'll be fun to track his career and compare it to Mazi Smith's, though Dallas fans should be more than content with Smith as the team's first-round selection given he filled the bigger need.