DeMarvion Overshown has been one of the few bright spots for the Cowboys in 2024

The Dallas Cowboys are a mess right now. They sit at 3-5 with three consecutive losses. On top of that, they continue to be rattled with injuries as quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb got banged up against the Atlanta Falcons, with the former set to miss several weeks with a hamstring issue. There has been one player that’s been a bright spot for the Cowboys. Defensively, as a whole, they’re not a good unit. However, second-year linebacker DeMarvion Overshown is playing good football.

Overshown had his rookie campaign cut short by a torn ACL. Naturally, the Cowboys were patient with his rehab, but it was clear even in the preseason, even in limited action, that Overshown was ready to show the potential that had everyone buzzing about him in 2023. He got right to work in the Cowboys Week 1 win over the Cleveland Browns. Overshown was arguably the best defensive player on the Cowboys as he racked up a team high 11 tackles (one tackle for loss), a sack, and two quarterback hits. Surprisingly, defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer went away from Overshown in Week 2 against the New Orleans Saints, and he only logged 18 snaps and produced four tackles. Ever since, the former third-rounder has started every game and hasn’t logged less than six tackles in any game.

Although the Cowboys didn’t win last Sunday, Overshown, again, had a case for being the team’s best player on defense. He put up seven tackles with three tackles being for a loss, which is a season high for Overshown. Two months into the season, Overshown’s play isn’t exciting just because he’s producing. It’s how he’s looked doing it. Yes, the Cowboys run defense is still bad overall as it’s ranked 31st in the league. However, Overshown continues to show the ability to flow sideline to sideline with no hesitation and speed. He shoots through gaps extremely fast, and he attacks as soon as he reads a play, which is very key against the run. That’s the type of guy you want on the second level of your defense. Now, if the Cowboys got better play on the interior of their defensive line, that would keep offensive lineman from getting to the second level and putting a hat on Overshown, and he would have free reign to roam and make plays.

For the season, Overshown is second on the Cowboys with 56 tackles. He also has two sacks, five tackles for loss, two pass breakups, and a forced fumble. This is exactly what Dallas could have hoped for after his ACL injury. Veteran Eric Kendricks is the alpha dog in the linebacker room. However, he’ll likely be a one-year rental, which makes Overshown the perfect kind of player to build around on the Cowboys defense for the foreseeable future along with All-Pro Micah Parsons. Speed, the ability to read and diagnose plays, and an aggressive play style are all a part of Overshown’s tool bag. He’s already a fantastic player, and he’s only going to improve as time goes on.