How Jerry Jones’ grandson helped the Dallas Cowboys select Texas LB DeMarvion Overshown

The Dallas Cowboys scouts and coaches did their homework on Texas All-Big 12 linebacker DeMarvion Overshown, picked in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft on Friday.

They made initial contact with him at the Senior Bowl, then had a formal interview with him at the NFL Scouting Combine before hitting it off like family during a pre-draft visit to the team’s headquarters in Frisco.

But the Cowboys also had an inside family connection that aided in pushing the pick over the top for both sides in Texas wide receiver Paxton Anderson, son of Cowboys’ vice president Charlotte Jones and grandson of owner Jerry Jones.

Not only was Anderson a teammate of Overshown at Texas but they’re close friends who shared a locker in the Longhorns locker room.

Overshown grew up a Cowboys fan in the tiny Texas town of Arp and lobbied Anderson to put in good word for him with his granddad.

Of course, Anderson was more than happy to oblige.

“He joked like that a lot,” Overshown said. “I know he has no control over that. But I can say I’ve known Paxton for awhile now, and he’s seen me, and the words that he passed along to his grandfather was all from him. I didn’t have to persuade him or anything. He did all that. I don’t know what exactly he said to his grandpa about me, but a couple of times Mr. Jones said it was an A+ from what he got from Paxton.

“So whatever he said, it was good. I love him for it and I’m very appreciative.”

Anderson was in the Cowboys draft room on Thursday night but he was not there on Friday when the Cowboys took advantage of his inside information to draft Overshown.

Jones took particular delight in making the pick.

“That’s some close information right there, locker mates,” Jones said. “ Actually, we had talked about it at length before [DeMarvion] had his visit here. He had mentioned it from time to time in the past, the way he said it was whether he’s practicing or playing, he’s just all over the place. He’s everywhere.

“For me it really was a personal thrill to just think about how close that was and how ironic it would be sitting here using a third pick in the draft with a guy that has that kind of relationship. The good news was that he had already told me he was just outstanding in every way as a human being.”

Overshown is just the fourth Longhorns player drafted by the Cowboys since Jones bought the team in 1989, joining receiver Wane McGarity in the fourth round in 1999, tight end Geoff Swaim in seventh round in 2015 and guard Connor Williams in the second round in 2018.

It was a pick that just felt natural from beginning for Overshown and the Cowboys.

“My first visit with them was at the Senior Bowl,” Overshown said. “I talked to them for a couple of minutes on that little ‘speed dating,’ how they do that. At the combine, I had a formal interview with them and it went great. We sat down and watched a little film. But most of the time we talked ball and we talked about family. You can tell right then and there that we clicked. The whole room felt good about what was going on. I felt comfortable. I didn’t feel out of place and it was easy talking to DQ and Coach (Mike) McCarthy.”

“Then on my 30 visit, it went so smooth. It was family. It felt like family. I actually called Paxton (Anderson) right after and I told him Dallas felt like family. It felt like home. I didn’t feel like a stranger there. So that’s one thing I can say that they did, and I’m glad I’m in that situation.”