Cowboys Rumors: Willie Harvey Jr. Agrees to Contract; LB Made All-UFL Team
Mike Chiari@@mikechiari
Featured Columnist IVJune 18, 2024
Following his strong performance with the UFL's St. Louis Battlehawks this past season, linebacker Willie Harvey Jr. agreed to a contract with the Dallas Cowboys on Tuesday, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.
Pelissero previously reported that the Cowboys were bringing the 28-year-old Iowa State alum in for a workout:
Tom Pelissero @TomPelisseroThe <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cowboys?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cowboys</a> will work out All-UFL LB Willie Harvey Jr. on Tuesday, per source. <br><br>Harvey — who appeared in four games with the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Browns?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Browns</a> from 2019-21 — led the UFL in tackles and all linebackers in tackles for loss, passes defended and forced fumbles.<a href="https://t.co/curmLapnMx">pic.twitter.com/curmLapnMx</a>
After playing for the Battlehawks in the XFL in 2023, Harvey took his game to the next level in the UFL in 2024, leading the league in tackles and leading all linebackers in tackles for loss, passes defended and forced fumbles en route to earning All-UFL honors.
While Harvey has made a name for himself in spring football leagues in recent years, he is no stranger to the NFL.
The Cleveland Browns signed Harvey as an undrafted free agent in 2019, and he shuttled between their active roster, their practice squad and free agency over the next three years.
All told, Harvey appeared in two regular-season games for the Browns in 2019 and two more in 2021, recording a total of two tackles.
After the Browns waived Harvey for a final time in August 2022, the Battlehawks selected him in the 2022 XFL draft, and he revived his career from there.
Following the retirement of Leighton Vander Esch, the Cowboys have some question marks at linebacker, meaning Harvey could conceivably carve out a role for himself in Dallas' defense.
The Cowboys signed veteran linebacker Eric Kendricks to start alongside Damone Clark, but there is a significant lack of experience behind them with 2023 third-round pick DeMarvion Overshown and 2024 third-round pick Marist Liufau as the main backups.
Dallas' willingness to dip into the UFL talent pool for help was perhaps aided by the fact that a similar move worked in the Cowboys' favor last year.
The Cowboys signed kicker Brandon Aubrey following his success with the USFL champion Birmingham Stallions, and in Aubrey's rookie year in the NFL last season, he made 36 of his 38 field goal attempts and was a Pro Bowler and First Team All-Pro.
If the Cowboys can get even a fraction of that level of production from Harvey, they will undoubtedly be happy with the decision to sign him.
