Under the guidance of former defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, the Dallas Cowboys tried an experiment in 2023. With rookie linebacker DeMarvion Overshown being lost for the season with a torn ACL, and veteran Leighton Vander Esch being lost early in the year, Markquese Bell, who came in as a safety, was asked to handle linebacker duties in Quinn's scheme. Bell performed well as he racked up 94 tackles, the second-most on the team behind Damone Clark.
The only problem with Bell's switch to linebacker was that he is only 205 pounds, making him extremely undersized. Late last season, and even more in the Cowboys playoff loss to the Green Bay Packers, the Cowboys got destroyed in the run game due to their lack of size at linebacker, Bell in particular.