The Dallas Cowboys are adding one of the UFL’s top players as linebacker Willie Harvey Jr. is heading to Big D. The Cowboys hosted Harvey for a June 11, 2024, workout and the front office appears to have liked what they saw. Dallas was not the only team interested in Harvey as NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported that other franchises were in the mix as well.
“All-UFL LB Willie Harvey Jr. plans to sign with the Cowboys, per source,” Pelissero detailed in a series of June 18 messages on X. “Harvey had interest from several other teams. But last week’s workout with Dallas went well and now he’ll be signing once his UFL release is official.”
It may not be a splashy signing for the Cowboys, but there is plenty to like about adding Harvey. For starters, Dallas could use depth at linebacker.
Harvey is coming off an impressive season with the St. Louis Battlehawks. The defender led the league with 76 tackles and added 4 sacks in 2024. Harvey’s play also earned him All-UFL honors in 2024.
The Cowboys have had success in the past turning to other leagues to land sleepers, including versatile returner KaVontae Turpin. Harvey has NFL experience spending time with the Cleveland Browns prior to joining the UFL.
It will likely not surprise Cowboys fans to learn that the franchise is being criticized for a quiet offseason. ESPN’s Seth Walder ranked the Cowboys’ offseason as the No. 30 team (out of 32 franchises) earning a dismal D+.
“… The Cowboys let offensive tackle Tyron Smith walk to the Jets for cheap (just $6.5 million fully guaranteed) and while they have other players who can play tackle — Terence Steele, Chuma Edoga, Tyler Smith and first-round pick Tyler Guyton — Smith is coming off a strong season and could have been an asset for a team with Super Bowl aspirations.”
It will be interesting to see if Dallas makes more moves as training camp nears. For now, the Cowboys have had an underwhelming offseason after making an early exit in the postseason.
