Cowboys Debate Which Player Could Make His First Career Pro Bowl In 2026
Football season is moving closer for the Dallas Cowboys, and training camp will soon bring the first real look at Brian Schottenheimer’s second year with a reshaped roster and coaching staff. Dallas is set to head to Oxnard in less than a month, where the team’s biggest questions will begin turning into actual answers. One of the most interesting questions is which Cowboys player could take the next step and earn his first career Pro Bowl selection.
The Cowboys have several candidates who fit that conversation. A young roster with developing talent always creates room for breakout seasons, especially when roles expand under a new or adjusted coaching structure. For Dallas, the names drawing the most attention are linebacker DeMarvion Overshown and offensive guard Tyler Booker.
Overshown is the popular choice because his talent has never been the issue. The only real question has been health, which has unfortunately interrupted the early part of his NFL career. If he can stay on the field for a full season, he has the athleticism, versatility and production profile to become one of the Cowboys’ most important defenders.
Mickey Spagnola pointed to Overshown as his pick, though he acknowledged the health concern. The Cowboys will begin training camp in their newly formed 3-4 base defense, with Overshown and Dee Winters expected to operate as the two inside linebackers. Overshown is projected to start off as the Mike linebacker, but his athletic ability should also keep him on the field when Dallas shifts into nickel looks.
That opportunity matters because Pro Bowl seasons usually come from players who are not only talented but also heavily involved. Overshown should have a role that allows him to pile up tackles, create pressure and make plays in coverage. If he is healthy, the system should give him a platform to show everything the Cowboys have always believed he could become.
His past production supports the optimism. After missing his entire rookie season because of an ACL injury suffered in the second preseason game, Overshown returned and started 12 of 13 games in his second season. Playing outside linebacker in a 4-3 look and also contributing in nickel packages, he finished with 95 tackles, five sacks, 16 pressures and four passes defended.
Those numbers showed how disruptive he can be when he is available. Overshown was not just collecting tackles after plays were already decided; he was affecting the game in multiple ways. His speed and instincts allowed him to rush, cover, chase and finish.
One play still stands out from that season. On Thanksgiving against the Giants, Overshown tipped a pass to himself and returned the interception 23 yards for a touchdown. That was the kind of highlight that made people believe he was on the verge of becoming a household name.
Then bad luck hit again. Overshown tore his other ACL in Game 14, which delayed his momentum and limited him in 2025. He played in only six games, turning what could have been a breakout follow-up into another season shaped by recovery.
That injury history is why the phrase “if healthy” follows him everywhere. Still, Patrik Walker made the point that Overshown should not automatically be labeled injury-prone. In his view, the linebacker has dealt with brutal luck more than a pattern of physical unreliability.
Walker also picked Overshown to earn his first Pro Bowl nod. He called it a bold prediction before admitting he does not really see it as bold at all. When Overshown is on the field for long stretches, he looks like one of the most dynamic linebackers in the league.
The timing also adds another layer. Overshown is entering a contract year, which means his 2026 season could shape his NFL future in a major way. Players do not need extra motivation in that situation, but the financial stakes certainly add urgency.
The coaching changes could help him as well. Christian Parker’s arrival as defensive coordinator and Scott Symons’ work as inside linebackers coach should create a fresh developmental environment. If the new staff uses Overshown creatively, his versatility could become a weekly problem for opposing offenses.
Walker’s argument is simple: if Overshown plays the full season, it is hard to find a reason he would not be in the Pro Bowl conversation. That is a strong statement, but it reflects how much belief still exists in his ceiling. The Cowboys need defensive difference-makers, and Overshown has the profile to become exactly that.
Tommy Yarrish went in a different direction and selected Tyler Booker. The young guard stepped into one of the hardest situations on the roster last season. Replacing Zack Martin at right guard was never going to be easy, especially after Martin built a Hall of Fame résumé at the position.
Booker was not asked to become Martin immediately, and nobody should expect that. What he did was minimize the drop-off more than many people expected. For a rookie stepping into such an important role, that alone was a major success.
Yarrish believes Booker’s draft selection deserves more credit than it has received. Dallas needed stability on the offensive line, and Booker quickly became a long-term answer at right guard. His rookie season was not perfect, but it gave the Cowboys a foundation to build on.
The run game was where Booker made his biggest early impact. He arrived with a reputation as a mauler, and that physical style translated quickly. Dallas benefited from his power and toughness, especially when trying to establish control at the line of scrimmage.
Pass protection remains the area where he still needs work. That is common for young interior linemen, especially those adjusting to NFL speed, defensive movement and complex pressure looks. If Booker improves in that phase during his second offseason, his overall game could jump quickly.
A full year in Schottenheimer and Klayton Adams’ system should help. Offensive linemen often make significant progress between Year 1 and Year 2 because the game slows down and technique becomes cleaner. Booker already showed enough as a rookie to make that second-year leap feel realistic.
The Pro Bowl path for an offensive guard is different from the path for a linebacker. Guards do not always produce obvious highlight plays, so reputation, team success and visible dominance matter. If Dallas runs the ball well and Booker becomes one of the tone-setters, he could gain the attention needed to enter that conversation.
Booker’s advantage is stability. Unlike Overshown, his main question is not whether he can stay on the field. His challenge is whether he can refine his pass protection and become dominant enough to stand out among NFC guards.
Overshown’s advantage is explosiveness. Linebackers who create sacks, turnovers and highlight plays can climb into Pro Bowl discussions quickly. If he combines that playmaking with a full season of snaps, his case could become very strong.
That makes this Cowboys question especially interesting. Booker may be the safer breakout bet because his role is secure and his development path is clear. Overshown may have the higher ceiling because his best plays can change games and grab national attention.
Dallas would gladly take either outcome. A Pro Bowl season from Booker would mean the offensive line has found a young cornerstone after Martin’s departure. A Pro Bowl season from Overshown would mean the defense has finally unlocked one of its most talented players.
The Cowboys need both players to make progress if they want to raise their ceiling in 2026. Schottenheimer’s offense needs physicality and consistency up front, while the defense needs speed and versatility in its new 3-4 structure. Booker and Overshown each represent a different part of the team’s future.
Training camp in Oxnard will provide the first real clues. Booker’s technique, conditioning and pass-protection improvement will be worth watching closely. Overshown’s movement, confidence and role in the new defense may be even more important.
For now, the staff debate leans heavily toward Overshown, with Booker standing as the strongest alternative. That feels right because Overshown’s talent has already flashed at a Pro Bowl level when healthy. The only missing ingredient has been uninterrupted time on the field.
If 2026 finally gives him that, the Cowboys could have one of the NFL’s breakout linebackers. If Booker takes a Year 2 leap, Dallas could have its next long-term star on the offensive line. Either way, the Cowboys have multiple realistic candidates to make their first career Pro Bowl, and that is a good sign for a roster trying to take the next step.