Should Baltimore Ravens consider drafting Texas LB DeMarvion Overshown

The Baltimore Ravens may be looking to draft a linebacker considering they lack depth, and have a big contract discussion coming up with Patrick Queen. Is Texas linebacker DeMarvion Overshown a good fit?

DeMarvion Overshown NFL Draft Profile

DeMarvion Overshown went to Texas as a safety. However, by his sophomore season, he was on the field as a linebacker for the Longhorns and he was starting for them by 2020. Overshown is a fifth-year senior with 2,192 snaps on the Texas defense.

Last season was his best as he added 23 pressures, to 67 tackles, and 46 stops, per PFF. Overshown was invited to the Senior Bowl, where he elevated his stock, and performed at the NFL combine. Below you can see how he performed.

He is tall and has long enough limbs that he can transition to the NFL, and fortunately, linebackers keep getting smaller. Still, Overshown is thin for a typical NFL linebacker, and having that higher-end speed, and broad jump can help with that. Still, the reps on the bench highlight questions with strength

How does DeMarvion Overshown fit in the NFL?

His athletic profile brings home the idea of what he is, and that is a safety who turned into a linebacker. He obviously progressed at Texas, but his size and strength are his key questions. Can he handle the physical duties in the box? He had a 19.2% missed tackle rate during his career against Big 12 players, will that grow in the NFL?

Still, he has a height that makes him intriguing and he is a loose linebacker who can impact passing lanes in coverage. Overshown is not as strong downhill, but he can get to the sideline with ease, and he can shut down big plays with his run and chase nature against the run. Texas did not ask him to run with receivers much, but he should at least have the speed to pick up crossing players when sitting in zone.

NFL Comparison for DeMarvion Overshown

One of the better NFL comparisons for DeMarvion Overshown would be linebacker Drue Tranquil. Below you can see how they compare physically.

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More than that Tranquill went to Notre Dame as a safety and left the school as an NFL-caliber linebacker. Tranquill still is limited in the NFL because he is not the strongest in the box against the run. However, in recent years the Chargers have loved his ability in coverage against tight ends and bigger slot wide receivers.

Tranquill just signed a deal with the Kansas City Chiefs to start in the run-and-chase role as the WILL. It shows that despite the box deficiencies if Overshown can show enough speed, and break up enough passes in coverage, there is a role for him in the NFL.

Does DeMarvion Overshown fit the Baltimore Ravens?

The fit for DeMarvion Overshown makes a lot of sense. He would be behind Patrick Queen during his rookie season, so they would not be expecting big things out of him right away. Still, if the Ravens do move on from Queen, it would make sense to look for a young and up-and-coming player who can complement Roquan Smith.

With Smith in the box, it can force Overshown into the WILL role and let him play as a run-and-chase player. Because the Ravens play their SAM often, they really can mix and match and let Overshown only play as an extra linebacker when they need someone to run and chase outside of the box.

The cost will be the key. If someone values his coverage to the point where they draft him in the third round, that may be too high for the Ravens. Otherwise, this is the type of player that they could be looking for as a longer-term replacement for Patrick Queen on day three of the NFL draft.