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Cowboys Fill Position of Need With All-UFL Defender

The Cowboys will reportedly sign St. Louis Battlehawks linebacker Willie Harvey Jr., who worked out for the team last week.

By Jovan Alford

Jun 4, 2024; Frisco, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy addresses the media before practice at the Ford Center at the Star Training Facility in Frisco, Texas.
Jun 4, 2024; Frisco, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy addresses the media before practice at the Ford Center at the Star Training Facility in Frisco, Texas. / Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
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The Dallas Cowboys have had a lackluster offseason, which goes against their moniker of being “all-in”, which they were preaching after the 2023 season ended.

The Cowboys didn’t make a ton of splash free-agent signings outside of Ezekiel Elliott and Eric Kendricks, both players who should make an impact immediately. Kendricks joins a talented Dallas linebacker unit that features Damone Clark, DeMarvion Overshown, and rookie Marist Liufau.

However, the depth behind those guys isn’t good enough and the Cowboys will need solid LB play in Mike Zimmer’s defense this season. To address this issue, Dallas decided to head back to the spring football ranks and grab one of the best defenders in the league.

On Tuesday, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported that the Cowboys plan to sign St. Louis Battlehawks linebacker Will Harvey Jr. Harvey reportedly worked out for the team last week and had interest from several other teams, per Pelissero.

Harvey had an outstanding season with the St. Louis Battlehawks, recording 78 total tackles (league-leading), nine tackles for loss, six pass breakups, four sacks, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery.

Harvey has some NFL experience as he spent time with the Cleveland Browns in 2019 and 2021. However, he only played in four career regular season games. The Battlehawk LB will hope for a longer stay in the NFL, as the Cowboys aren’t shy about signing players who played spring football.

The Cowboys have reaped the benefits of spring football through the signings of wide receiver Kavontae Turpin and kicker Brandon Aubrey. 

Aubrey played with the Birmingham Stallions in the USFL and had a fantastic rookie season in 2023. The former Stallions kicker made 36-of-38 field goals and 49-of-52 extra points en route to being named to the Pro Bowl.

Meanwhile, Turpin is one of the more explosive kick returners in the NFL, averaging 25.8 yards per kickoff return through two seasons and making the Pro Bowl in 2022. Turpin made a name for himself in the USFL with the New Jersey Generals.

The Cowboys hope Harvey Jr. can become a key playmaker on defense as they try to win another division this season.

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