The Athletic recently gathered their NFL reporters together to compile a list by choosing one player from each team who they believe has the most at stake entering the 2026 season. For the Dallas Cowboys, Jon Machota chose linebacker DeMarvion Overshown.
Dallas Cowboys: DeMarvion Overshown, LB
Three players immediately come to mind: Overshown, LT Tyler Guyton and WR George Pickens. Overshown gets the nod because he’s in the final year of his rookie contract. Guyton will likely have another season in Dallas even if this one doesn’t go well.
Pickens is likely getting paid well by the Cowboys or another team in free agency next year. Overshown doesn’t have that type of job security. When healthy, he’s easily Dallas’ best linebacker. But significant knee injuries have caused him to miss 32 games over the last three seasons. A strong, full season likely leads to a quality new deal. But if he’s unable to stay on the field, Overshown could be left with underwhelming contract offers. — Jon Machota
Of the potential Dallas Cowboys players Jon Machota could have chosen as the player with the most at stake entering the 2026 season, you can’t argue LB DeMarvion Overshown wasn’t the right choice. Not only does he have to prove he can overcome his past injury history, but also has to prove he can be a reliable starter in a contract year.
If Overshown can stay healthy for the entire 2026 season, he could prove to be one of the best off-ball LBs in the entire league. He was just recently landed outside the Top 10 LBs in ESPN’s rankings, but possesses the talent to shoot up that list with a strong showing this season. Staying healthy of course will be key though.
Overshown isn’t the only Cowboys player with a lot at stake this season. There is one player on the roster who might have more at stake than him, cornerback DaRon Bland, who could potentially be playing his last season in Dallas if his play doesn’t improve.
Despite being the seventh highest-paid CB in the league, Bland’s play hasn’t lived up to his big-money contract recently. A lot of that probably has to do with the reoccurring foot injury that’s required surgery in back-to-back seasons. He too, like Overshown, has to prove he can overcome his concerning injury history to once again play at an All-Pro level like in 2023.
It could be a toss of the coin as to which player, Bland or Overshown, has more at stake entering the 2026 season. Both have troubling injury history’s over the past few years and both could be playing to remain in Dallas beyond this year. Bland could potentially be a salary-cap casualty if his play doesn’t improve and Overshown may not receive an extension from the Cowboys.
If all goes as planned, both Overshown and Bland will remain healthy for the entire season and be at their best. These two players are expected to be key members of Christian Parker’s new-look 3-4 defense, and as such, will play important roles this season. If they don’t play up to par, and could be in another disappointing season for Dallas’ defense.
Who do you think has the most at stake heading into the 2026 season?
