(Editor's Note: Who doesn't love lists? Throughout the season, 'High 5' will provide a top five list for many of the critical topics surrounding the ¶¶ÒõÊÓƵ 2025 season.)
Both the bye week and the trade deadline are now a thing of the past. As the ¶¶ÒõÊÓƵ (3-5-1) prepared for their Monday Night Football showdown with the Las Vegas Raiders (2-7), they did so with some new faces on defense. The timing of the bye and the deadline allowed for a natural return time for multiple players coming off injuries, along with the new trade acquisitions. What can the new-look Dallas defense expect from so many new players? Some will need time to adjust, while others will make an impact immediately in game one. Here are five key defensive players who are being added to the Cowboys defense, and what to expect from them during their clash with the Raiders on Monday Night Football:
Shavon Revel
Coming off a stellar junior season with the East Carolina Pirates, Revel was regarded as one of the top cornerback prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft class. Unfortunately, a torn ACL suffered in September diminished his draft stock, dropping him from what could have been a first-round pick, to the middle of the third round.
Now 14 months down the line, Revel is fully healthy and ready to make his NFL debut. Expect a bit of a ramp-up period for Revel, as he works into a new system and off a severe injury. But his combination of size, speed, and length is something added to the Cowboys secondary that they haven't had previously. He excelled in press coverage during his time in college and could be asked to do so again.
Donovan Wilson
Despite a rocky start to the season, Donovan Wilson has still made some key plays for the Cowboys in 2025. Wilson has missed the last two games with an elbow and shoulder injury that he suffered in the win over Washington. However, he was a full participant in practice according to Saturday's injury report and has lost his injury designation this week.
His presence in the secondary brings downhill, relentless, thumper mentality back to the position. As long as he's not asked to cover large areas of the field, his addition to the defense should help the secondary group.
Logan Wilson
The first big trade deadline move the Cowboys front office finalized, brought Logan Wilson from the Cincinnati Bengals to Dallas in exchange for a 2026 seventh-round pick. Wilson had requested a trade from the Bengals after losing snaps in the linebacker room this season but had registered four-straight 100-tackle seasons entering 2025.
It's apparent early in his tenure that Wilson has the right mindset and skillset to bring an extra element to the Dallas linebackers. He has been a force in coverage, registering 11 interceptions in his first four seasons, but has yet to snag one over the last two seasons. He'll be asked to play the middle linebacker role in rotation, and don't be shocked if his snaps grow as time goes on.
DeMarvion Overshown
Another long-awaited return for the Dallas defense. DeMarvion Overshown's 2024 season was already a testament to his resiliency, coming off a major knee injury from the preseason of 2023. So, when he went down late in the Monday Night Football game against the Bengals in Week 14, the collective hearts of Cowboys fans dropped.
Now, in a poetic return to another Monday Night Football matchup, Overshown is back healthy and will add size and speed to a linebacker room that has struggled at times this season. He'll likely play next to two players he's never played with, in Logan Wilson and Kenneth Murray. Meaning the communication and reaction times might need to be worked out early on.
Quinnen Williams
When the news broke about the Cowboys trade for star defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, Dallas defenders rejoiced. His addition makes the entire unit better. Williams was aquired for a 2026 second-round pick, a 2027 first-round pick, and former first-rounder Mazi Smith.
With 40.0 sacks over the first six and a half seasons of his career, along with his run-stuffing ability, Williams has the upside as one of the best defensive tackles in franchise history. He'll line up next to Kenny Clark, pairing two of the more consistent and dynamic interior defensive lineman in the country together.
