Dallas Cowboys 2023 UDFA profiles – Who are these guys?

Dallas Cowboys UDFAs

One position the Dallas Cowboys needed depth at was linebacker. The team did grab DeMarvion Overshown in the draft, but he is thought to be more of a Jabril Cox replacement than anything. Wheat is more of a “tweener” at linebacker with a tendency to edge than Overshown is with a tendency to safety. Dan Quinn loves players with versatility so having a player like Wheat who can play on the line or in a more traditional linebacker role fits.

Wheat is a physical player who loves to make contact and can come downhill into gaps or even play and set an edge against the run. More powerful and fast than he is explosive and twitchy, he is a good blitzer with an ability to close quickly. He lowers his shoulder and looks to dislodge the ball when he makes contact. He lined up inside and out on the line for Miss St and was used in a lot of 3-4 and 3-3-5 situations.

Sometimes he will sell a little early on his intent and will shift his weight pre-snap either forward or back. When he rushes he doesn’t really have a lot of moves to counter, but will prefer a bull-rush or will “throw” his shoulder into a blocker instead of punching at arm’s length. He’s range is a little questionable and it shows up when he is a tick slow in anticipation. He certainly has the ability to be a depth player at linebacker and if he can play special teams fills a need for the Cowboys.