The Cowboys have spent years building a pipeline of young talent, and that steady draft churn from Jerry Jones and Will McClay has kept Dallas stocked with players worth watching. But there’s a limit to how many prospects a team can keep nurturing at once. At some point, the Cowboys have to decide which young pieces deserve more runway and which ones are better off being pushed aside so the focus can shift elsewhere.
A few names stand out in that split. On one side are players the Cowboys should keep developing because there’s still real upside worth chasing. On the other are players who haven’t flashed enough to justify much more patience.
DeMarvion Overshown fits the first group. Health has been the problem, not talent.
When he has been at his best, he has looked like someone who could grow into one of the league’s top blitzing linebackers. That kind of ceiling is too tempting to walk away from now.
Ryan Flournoy also belongs in the keep-building category. He came out of Southeast Missouri State and has turned himself into one of Dallas’ more interesting receiving options. If the Cowboys end up paying George Pickens and don’t add another receiver, Flournoy’s continued rise as a No. 3 wideout would be a major boost.
Then there’s Tyler Guyton, who remains part of a bigger question for Dallas. The Cowboys need to figure out whether he is going to be their left tackle of the future.
If Thomas beats him out, that could give the team the answer it needs. Thomas can also push his way into the long-term picture by proving he can at least be dependable depth on the offensive line.
His draft status does not buy him unlimited patience, especially after a grade under 30.0 last season.
The other side of the ledger is less encouraging.
Shavon Revel Jr. is one of the tougher calls, but the Cowboys may be nearing the point where they have to move on. He is a second-year third-round pick coming off an injury, so the instinct is to keep waiting. Still, the pressure around him has already increased with veterans Cobie Durant and Derion Kendrick added to the mix, and Dallas also used another pick on outside cornerback Devin Moore.
Sam Williams is in a similar spot, only with less ambiguity. The Cowboys gave him the full length of his rookie contract to prove he was worthy of being a second-round pick, and he never really came close. He may still be in Dallas, but with new players already ahead of him, he does not look like part of the long-term plan.
In Other News...
Cowboys May Have Found The Exact Camp Battle Fans Feared
Langston Patterson has already become one of the more interesting names in Cowboys camp, even if he arrived as an undrafted rookie from Vanderbilt. Linebacker battles tend to get crowded quickly in Oxnard, but Patterson brings a skill set that usually keeps a player in the conversation longer than expected, especially when the emphasis is on stopping the run.
His college tape gives Dallas a reason to keep watching closely. Patterson was a steady three-year starter for the Commodores and turned in strong production against the run, the kind of profile that can fit a roster fight where every rep matters. The question now is whether that strength is enough to separate him from the rest of the linebacker mix before the Cowboys have to make a tough call. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Defense Has One Camp Problem Fans Know Too Well
The Cowboys are heading into camp with a defense that looks and feels brand new, from Christian Parker taking over as a first-time defensive coordinator to the switch into a 3-4 front. The early linebacker picture is clear enough on paper, with DeMarvion Overshown set up in the middle and Dee Winters expected to handle the weak side, but the new staff is still sorting through how those pieces fit together in a scheme they are all learning on the fly.
What makes this spot worth watching is the layer underneath the projected starters. Jaishawn Barham is waiting as a rookie who could push for a bigger role, while second-year linebacker Shemar James enters camp with an uncertain fit after leading the team in tackles a year ago. For a unit trying to establish itself under a fresh coaching staff, the real question may not be who opens camp in front, but who convinces Parker he can be trusted once the reps start stacking up. [Read more 🡒]
These Under The Radar Cowboys Could Suddenly Matter A Lot More
A few Cowboys who have spent most of their time outside the spotlight could wind up drawing plenty of attention if the season breaks right. Ryan Flournoy is one of the more intriguing names in that mix, with a chance to carve out a larger role at receiver if the passing game starts looking beyond the usual top targets, while Jaydon Blue offers the kind of explosive ability that can change how quickly a backfield conversation takes shape.
Jalen Thompson also fits that under-the-radar category, even if his path is different from the others. His arrival gave Dallas another piece to sort through in the secondary, and the bigger question now is how much of a role he can claim once the competition settles in. For a team always looking for young contributors who can outplay their labels, these are the kinds of names that can move from roster depth to real relevance in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]