The Dallas Cowboys have a made a concerted effort to rebuild the defense this offseason, and though we are a long way from figuring out the extent to which that rebuild will work, there is no doubt that there will be a wealth of new faces taking on new roles in 2026. And while the 2025 defensive ineptitude forced the Cowboys into replenishing the team’s starters, there was also a need for depth pieces and specialized roles, notions with which the Cowboys have been tinkering lately. And one new addition could be especially interesting: defensive lineman LT Overton.
The Cowboys picked Overton in the fourth round after a productive career with the Crimson Tide. he stayed on the board that long because, while he was an edge rusher at Alabama, he is a bit of a tweener at the NFL level–too slow and thick to play on the edge, but not hefty enough to be a pure every-down defensive lineman.
But there is a place for players like Overton, if they can be used creatively. And defensive coordinator Christian Parker said there are some creative plans in place for Overton.
Cowboys Will Use LT Overton as a Defensive Tackle
Over the weekend, Parker gave his most extensive talk with the media since his introductory press conference, and of the many topics he covered, the Cowboys’ plans with Overton were one. He is not going to be on the field at all times, but there are certain situations and packages in which Overton could be used.
“We see him as a defensive tackle,” Parker said. “We know he can play on the edge some, that’s what he did at Alabama. We’ve seen him play over tackles and tight ends, and play more vertical. Marcus [Dixon] has a good plan for him, whether it’s playing the 3[-tech], the 5[-tech], playing some 4i, but we really see a versatile player. He plays a violent style, he uses his hands well, he plays with a power base.
“He’s been in different alignments already, so it’s going to be more comfortable for him here.”
‘Position Flex’ a Key
Overton’s strength and power are what most stands out about him, and he logged 4.0 sacks in 2025, with 6.0 tackles for a loss. That was primarily working as an edge rusher. But it’s fascinating to imagine where the Cowboys could take him as he moves inside more, and, presumably, adds some weight–he is listed at 274 pounds by NFL.com.
Nick Eatman of Cowboys.com appeared on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas this week and was asked which rookie intrigued him most after last weekend’s opening camp. He did not hesitate.
“LT Overton,” he said. “No doubt about it. LT Overton is the one that is the most intriguing to me, and it’s what I talk about with that position flex. What I like about this is it reminds me of a guy going back 11 years, sorry, it reminds me of when they took a guy named Anthony Hitchens. And he could have gone later, but they had this vision in the fourth round for him. And they were like, and it was Rod Marinelli at the time, they were like, ‘This guy I one I can see coming right in here and doing this for me.’ And he did, he had 100 tackles as a rookie and all that. And they have that vision.
“He’s going to come in on certain situations, third downs, rush the passer from the interior, like it is a specific role they have for him.”
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