The Dallas Cowboys‘ class of 2023 is not a lost cause; not totally. The best draft pick just hasn’t been able to find a way to stay on the field. When the club selected Texas linebacker DeMarvion Overshown, it had high hopes and a ton of question marks. Overshown had converted from safety to linebacker at Austin, translating his solid positional speed into elite. The requisite questions about being able to disengage blockers, read plays and handle the wear and tear followed, as they should for a secondary player moving to the front seven.

And it’s the last concern that has reared its head the most, keeping him from reaching his heights, heights that apparently the entire league is well aware of. Despite losing his rookie season to an ACL, and the last third of his second to another, Overshown appears in the top 10 of the ESPN-led poll of NFL executives for linebackers in 2025.

Overshown, despite likely being out until Halloween and implied concerns about just how much he’ll be back to normal this coming season, was ranked No. 8 overall.

Highest ranking: 4 | Lowest ranking: UnrankedAge: 24 | Last year’s ranking: not eligible (rookie)

Overshown needed only 12 NFL games to convince a healthy number of voters that he’s a high-impact linebacker.

“He’s absolutely amazing,” a personnel exec with an NFL team said. “Ridiculous.”

“One of the most athletic linebackers I’ve ever seen,” a veteran NFL defensive coach said. “He’s the fastest guy out there. Can completely take over a game and was really starting to get it.”

Added an NFC offensive coach: “He’s the second guy you worry about in Dallas, after Micah [Parsons]. Big run-and-hit ability, third-down speed to cover.”

All that praise comes with a caveat: significant injury concerns. Overshown sat out his rookie season in 2023 because of an ACL tear in his left knee, then sustained a severe injury to his right knee in December 2024, tearing three ligaments (ACL, MCL, PCL). He plans to return at some point in the 2025 season, and that’s also Dallas’ hope.

Multiple voters have serious concerns about whether Overshown can maintain a consistent NFL career because of the damage already done. But his body of work in less than a full NFL season was strong: 90 tackles, 5 sacks, 4 pass deflections, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery. He led the top 10 in average distance run on tackles (18.9 yards).

“He can be a stud but has to really improve in zone coverage and when he has to disengage from a block,” a veteran NFL defensive coach said. “He can play man-to-man on any RB or TE in the league but zone awareness lacks. He does a great job using his athleticism to slip under blocks but if they get hands on him, it’s a problem.”

The Cowboys have waited a long time for an impact linebacker like Overshown, but fans know they’ve tried. They spent their 2017 second-round pick on Jaylon Smith, and their 2018 first rounder on Leighton Vander Esch. Both came with injury concerns that bore out in their shortened pro careers. Overshown didn’t have those concerns, was drafted in the perfect place to land a linebacker and still the injuries have become an issue.Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle

Returning a year after an ACL to play at the level he did offers some hope he can do it again, once he’s able to return to the field. The league is certainly aware how much his presence can help the Dallas defense, and that’s before the thoughts of new defensive coordinator, noted linebacker-whisperer Matt Eberflus, gets his hands on him.