FRISCO, Texas – The last two summers, the Cowboys have hit a pair of home runs in signing players from other pro leagues.
Now, they're trying for two more as they signed linebacker Willie Harvey and cornerback Gareon Conley on Tuesday. Harvey led the UFL in tackles this past season and was named a first-team All-UFL performer for the St. Louis BattleHawks. Conley, a former first-round pick of the Raiders in 2017, played three years in the NFL but tried to revive his football career with a standout season for the DC Defenders in the XFL.
The past two seasons, the Cowboys signed return specialist KaVontae Turpin and then Brandon Aubrey from the USFL. Both made All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors in their first year with the Cowboys.
Harvey has been in and out of the NFL over the last five years. He went undrafted in 2019 but signed with the Browns, where he spent some time on the practice squad and active roster. Over the next three years, he played in just four games in Cleveland.
He eventually signed with the BattleHawks in 2023 as part of the XFL and stayed with the team as it transitioned to the UFL this past season.
Harvey joins a linebacker corps that is looking to improve in 2023, led by veteran Eric Kendricks, who signed a free-agent deal back in March. The Cowboys are getting DeMavion Overshwon back from injury and added draft pick Marist Liafau to the mix.
Conley, who has four career NFL interceptions, played in 31 games from 2017-19 with 26 starts, playing mostly with the Raiders. He spent part of 2019 with the Texans.
At cornerback, the Cowboys are getting Trevon Diggs back to pair up with DaRon Bland. Jourdan Lewis is back as the slot corner and the team has some young depth in Nahshon Wright, Eric Scott Jr. and rookie Caelen Carson.
