Luke Schoonmaker, DeMarvion Overshown top rounds 2-7 in Dallas Cowboys’ draft

After shoring up the defense with Michigan defensive tackle Mazi Smith with the 26th pick in the first round, the Dallas Cowboys turned their attention to filling holes on the rest of their roster in rounds 2-7 on Friday and Saturday.

With the 58th pick in the second round, the Cowboys went back to Michigan and took tight end Luke Schoonmaker before finishing with Texas linebacker DeMarvion Overshown in the third round.

A nose tackle, tight end and linebacker didn’t make for the sexiest haul by the Cowboys on the first two days of the draft but they got three players who will make early impacts, per owner Jerry Jones.

“I see them on the field a lot,” Jerry Jones said. “They will play. They will actively play. I see them available. They will play in big time situations. That was my goal was to come out of here with guys who are on the field this year.”

Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy took offense any notion of the team’s draft not being considered sexy. Not only does he like what the Cowboys got so far in Smith, Schoonmaker and Overshown but he said the draft haul includes trades over the last year for defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins, safety Stephen Gilmore and receiver Brandin Cooks, which costs them two fifth-round picks and a sixth-round pick in this draft.

“I disagree with your question. I think it’s sexy as hell,” McCarthy said.

Tight end was a position the Cowboys have targeted since losing starter Dalton Schultz in free agency to the Houston Texans.

The Cowboys were pleased with the development of 2022 rookies Jake Ferguson and Peyton Hendershot but still felt the need to bolster the position in a draft that was deep at the tight end position.

“This is an excellent tight end class,” coach Mike McCarthy said. “We recognize it but I think they all have specific skills. What I really liked about Luke is he is very, very well rounded. And that’s what you’re looking for. So you know as a play caller and designer, these tight ends. It gives you chance to get different personnel groups and stay creative, be able to attack both in the one-back and two-back offense.”

Schoonmaker was one of six tight ends taken in the first and second rounds. He was the fourth tight end taken on Friday.

Dalton Kincaid (Buffalo Bills), Sam LaPorta (Detroit Lions), Michael Mayer (Las Vegas Raiders) and Luke Musgrave (Green Bay Packers) were among the tight ends already off the board who had been linked to the Cowboys.

“At the end of the day, you know we weren’t in any panic,” vice president Stephen Jones said. “There were still good tight ends left and we liked when we picked it. So we were very comfortable. It wasn’t, ‘Oh my gosh, we’re not gonna have a tight end to get.’ It was just we liked him more than we did the tight ends that were left and our other options.”

Schoonmaker talked to the Cowboys at the NFL Scouting Combine in February but he hadn’t had much contact with the team until the phone call on Friday night.

“I felt like I had frozen time and I was just in that moment,” Schoonmaker said. “But to receive that call, it’s just the greatest thing that’s ever happened to me and I’m just so blessed.”

The 6-foot-5, 251-pound Schoonmaker is a combo tight end who is a competent as a run blocker and pass receiver.

He caught 35 passes for 418 yards and three touchdowns in 2022 for Michigan. He is capable of playing in 1-, 2- or 3-tight end sets.

“Just being able to line me up in different in different spots, in line in the slot and just being the versatile that I am,” Schoonmaker said when asked what he brings to the Cowboys. “I think I can really add a lot to that room and the team.”

Schoonmaker is looking forward to playing with Ferguson and Hendershot and also reuniting with Sean McKeon, who was his teammate at Michigan, in the Cowboys tight end room.

“All my tight end guys and my teammate Sean McKeon. I mean all three of those guys I’m so excited to be with them,” Schoonmaker said. “I’ve, through the years watched them, I’ve played against them. And it’s surreal to be able to be on the same squad as them now.”

Schoonmaker came to Michigan as a quarterback before switching to tight end. He said it gave him a huge advantage in terms of understanding the passing game and reading defenses.

And he is excited to work with Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott.

“It’s such an opportunity to work with a guy like Dak and the skill set that he has and the leadership that he has,” Schoonmaker said. “I’m just excited to be able to be a part of that and and get to work with him.”

Schoonmaker is most excited to be reunited against with Smith, the Cowboys first-round pick.

“He’s great person on and off the field,” Schoonmaker said. “He’s a great player, but he takes the time to connect with you too. He’s such a unique guy and someone that cares so much about others. He wants the best for his teammates. And I’m so grateful I was one of his teammates.”

Being drafted by the Cowboys was a dream come true for Overshown, who played in college right down the road in Austin and grew up the tiny town of Arp. Seeing the area code on the phone the Cowboys headquarters at the Star instantly brought tears down his eyes Friday night.

“It means the world to growing up around nothing but Cowboys fans,” Overshown said. “Basically they was my hometown team. So getting that call and hearing Jerry Jones voice that meant the world to me. It’s a feeling that I’ll never forget. I will cherish it forever. The tears instantly came down on my face once I saw that number.I I couldn’t have had a better situation. I’m blessed and I’m ready to get to work. I’m ready.”

Overshown bolsters the depth at depth linebacker behind Leighton Vander Esch and Damone Clark, while allowing star defender Micah Parsons to spend more time as edge rusher.

Overshown is a versatile and athletic linebacker who can stop the run, rush the passer and cover against the pass. He recorded 96 total tackles with 10 tackles for loss, four sacks and five pass deflections for the Longhorns in 2022.

He should be an immediate impact player on special teams.

Overshown talked to the Cowboys at the Senior Bowl and connected with them at the NFL Scouting Combine in February before consummating the relationship with defensive coordinator Dan Quinn during a pre-draft visit the team’s headquarters. He said he felt at home during the process and is ready to get to work.

“Any and everywhere,” Overshown said when asked how the Cowboys plan to use him. “Right now we started with the weakside linebacker. The last time I talked to [Dan Quinn]. We really detailed in that position but anywhere everywhere. He has a plan for me. Just moving me around kind of what I was doing in college. Kind of what you see right now with the Dallas defense: moving a lot of players around, having big guys play in space, big guys off the edge head. So I know Coach Quinn got a plan for me. And like I said, I’m so excited to work, whatever they need me to do, I’m going to do it.”

Cowboys scouting director Will McClay and McCarthy said not only was Overshown a perfect fit but they love his attitude, work ethic and love for the game.

“When you are talk about looking for a player at the linebacker position and what it takes to play linebacker in our defense and in the NFL, you got a cover running backs, cover tight ends,” McClay said. “You got to be able to blitz and you got to play all over the field. So they got to do a number of different things and then you also got to contribute on fourth down and love to play the game. You watch his dude play on tape and it shows that he loves to play the game of football.”

Said McCarthy: This is an excellent fit for us. It’s a great fit. Frankly, we were just kind of holding our breath to make sure he stayed up there. I think it’s a great fit. And the physical characteristics everybody’s wanting to get with his play style. To me, that’s what you’re looking for as a coach, that type of energy and the impact. We’re really excited to have him in the third round.”

On Saturday, the Cowboys selected linebacker DeMarvion Overshown (third round, Texas), defensive end Vilami Fehoko (fourth round, San Jose State), offensive lineman Asim Richards (fifth round, North Carolina).