Markquese Bell emerging as a defensive star with the Cowboys

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The addition of Markquese Bell has bolstered a Cowboys defensive group littered with talent.

The 24-year-old has been a lightning rod throughout his second season with the Cowboys, who signed him as an undrafted free agent in May 2022.

Bell’s story is a pretty remarkable one, as the converted linebacker and former safety at Florida A&M has been much more involved in the defensive schemes of Dan Quinn.

Not only was he passed up by every NFL team in the 2022 draft, but he was projected to be at the bottom of a roster practice squad at best, judging from his combine numbers.

So far this season, though, he’s risen quickly to near the top of the depth chart and has taken a lot of pressure off the shoulders of All-Pro linebacker Micah Parsons.

Bell has already featured in one more game than in his 2022 rookie campaign (five) and has made a significant impact.

Last season, he only had one tackle on the stats sheet, and that’s it, but the injury to Leighton Vander Esch has led to more playing time, and Bell has made the most of the opportunity.

In six games this year, he’s fourth in the team in tackles (27) along with a forced fumble, far exceeding what he managed in limited action a year ago.

Where he’s been instrumental is in short-yardage situations, with 3.5 stuffs thus far, while also defending one pass.

To this point of the season, Dallas’ defense ranks eighth in the NFL regarding yards allowed per game (288.7), thanks partly to Bell’s contributions.

Since the start of the regular season, Bell has looked ready to take a giant leap in his NFL career, registering a team-high eight tackles in their shutout victory over the New York Giants (40-0).

‘Big hits’

Following that outing, his defensive coordinator, Dan Quinn, praised the youngster highly.

“We’re just trying to enhance those good speed and hitting qualities and put him down close into that space to do it. I was very encouraged by him to get extended play time [Sunday] night: some big hits, a forced fumble. Those were things that I know are in his DNA, and it was very cool to see those come out.”

That’s not the only solid outing he’s shown this year, however, as Bell has registered at least one tackle in five of six contests and is coming off perhaps his best outing as a pro.

Bell came up with five tackles on Monday night against the Chargers as he sometimes went from outside linebacker while also playing in the secondary.

He tattooed Austin Ekeler on a check down in the red zone on Monday and was massive for them in that area of the field throughout the contest.

A duel threat like him can fill Vander Esch’s void and improve their pass coverage.

Losing the veteran presence of Vander Esch and his contributions is a significant loss, no doubt, but Bell seems to be holding his own right now.