Recent Cowboys Signing Says Playing for Dallas Was 'No-Brainer'

The Dallas Cowboys were shockingly quiet for most of the offseason as the team didn’t do much in free agency to address the needs on both sides of the ball. The two biggest signings that the Cowboys made were veterans Ezekiel Elliott and Eric Kendricks.

Kendricks should be a major addition to a young Cowboys’ linebacker unit that lost Leighton Vander Esch to retirement but has DeMarvion Overshown, Damone Clark, and rookie Marist Liufau. 

Dallas’ linebacker unit is talented but lacks depth, which the team addressed recently, by signing St. Louis Battlehawks linebacker Willie Harvey Jr. Harvey was one of the best defensive players in the UFL this season, recording 78 total tackles (league-best), nine tackles for loss, six pass breakups, four sacks, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery.

The All-UFL linebacker is excited about the opportunity to join the Cowboys and discussed his decision to join the team in an interview this week on 105.3 The Fan.

“They run a similar defense and I want the transition to be easy,” he said (h/t Patrik Walker of DallasCowboys.com). “I got along well with the guys, the coaches, and I have some camaraderie with special teams [coordinator John "Bones" Fassel] and it was an easy decision.”

For the 28-year-old UFL linebacker, it will be his second NFL stint as he was with the Cleveland Browns in 2019. Harvey isn’t taking this opportunity for granted. The chance to join Dallas for training camp seems like a dream come true, especially with the UFL’s hub being in Arlington, TX for the 2024 season.

“Man, it was truly a blessing," he said. "Even with the XFL and USFL being here, I never had to move. I've always been at home, so getting the opportunity to play for [the Cowboys] was a no-brainer.”

With the Cowboys not having strong depth at linebacker, Harvey has a good chance to make the team’s 53-man roster. Dallas has not been shy about giving spring football players a chance to compete, as we’ve seen Brandon Aubrey and Kavontae Turpin flourish. Harvey hopes to be the next spring football player to join the Cowboys.

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