FRISCO, Texas -- The Cowboys have added nearly 30 new players to the roster over the last two months, from a collection of free-agent signings, draft picks, undrafted free agents and even a few trades.
All in all, a third of the 90-man roster has been overhauled since mid-March, creating quite a few changes to each position.
Over the next few weeks, we'll take a closer look at where things stand at each position. The Cowboys won't release a depth chart until the first preseason game in August, so the following order of players is simply a projection, which of course, is always subject to change.
Let's continue our series with the linebacker position:
- DeMarvion Overshown
- Kenneth Murray Jr.
- Marist Liufau
- Jack Sanborn
- Shemar James
- Damone Clark
- Buddy Johnson
- Darius Harris
- Justin Barron
Battle to Watch: The two newcomers to the room in Shemar James and Justin Barron from the draft ranks. James, a fifth round pick out of Florida that the Cowboys traded up for, and Barron an undrafted free agent from Syracuse, will likely duke it out for the one of the spots on the roster, but could they push another player out of the equation entirely? Special teams will likely have to be a big emphasis for both at the start of their careers, and there's work to do to see time on the field for Dallas' defense.
Time is Now: Damone Clark is heading into the fourth and final season of his rookie contract and is looking to return to the version of himself that had him highly regarded out of LSU before a spinal fusion surgery, and a 2023 season that saw him tally 109 tackles. Consistency is the name of the game in the NFL though, and Clark hasn't been throughout his time in Dallas and wasn't a large part of the rotation last season. With DeMarvion Overshown set to miss some time, Clark has an opportunity to crack into a larger role, but will have to beat out some guys in front of him to do so.
Trait-Mark: It goes without saying that DeMarvion Overshown's speed can change a game. Cowboys fans and coaches have seen plenty of him flying to the ball and causing havoc, but how will he look following a second major injury? He's already done it once, and is the type of player who attacks his rehabilitation process with the mindset of being able to play free and without limitations when he returns, but when does he return and he can play with full confidence on his leg? All important questions that will make a big difference for Overshown and the Cowboys' future.
Don't Forget About … The Cowboys' trade for Kenneth Murray Jr. from the Titans took a large portion of the spotlight in the linebacker room this offseason, but don't overlook the signing of Jack Sanborn as a free agent. Sanborn was an undrafted free agent out of Wisconsin and earned his way into a significant role on the Bears' defense under Matt Eberflus, and now has a chance to do the same with him as the defensive coordinator in Dallas. For the rest of the players in the room, Sanborn's knowledge of what Eberflus is trying to do defensively will certainly help speed up the install process.
