Byron Cowart

{{Infobox NFL biography

| name = Byron Cowart

| image = File:Byron Cowart.jpg

| image_size =

| alt =

| caption = Cowart with the Maryland Terrapins in 2018

| current_team = New York Jets

| number = 93

| position = Defensive end

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|5|20}}

| birth_place = Seffner, Florida, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 3

| weight_lbs = 300

| high_school = Armwood (Seffner)

| college = Auburn (2015–2017)
Maryland (2018)

| draftyear = 2019

| draftround = 5

| draftpick = 159

| pastteams =

New England Patriots ({{NFL Year|2019|2021}})
Indianapolis Colts ({{NFL Year|2022}})
Kansas City Chiefs ({{NFL Year|2023}})*
Houston Texans ({{NFL Year|2023}})*
Miami Dolphins ({{NFL Year|2023}})*
Chicago Bears ({{NFL Year|2024}})
New York Jets ({{NFL Year|2025}}–present)

| status = Active

| highlights =

| statseason = 2024

| statweek =

| statlabel1 = Tackles

| statvalue1 = 67

| statlabel2 = Sacks

| statvalue2 = 3.5

| statlabel3 = Forced fumbles

| statvalue3 =

| statlabel4 = Fumble recoveries

| statvalue4 =

| statlabel5 = Pass deflections

| statvalue5 = 1

| statlabel6 = Interceptions

| statvalue6 =

| pfr = C/CowaBy00

}}

Byron Cowart (born May 20, 1996) is an American professional football defensive end for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Maryland Terrapins and Auburn Tigers and was selected by the New England Patriots in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL draft.{{cite web |title=Former Arwood star Byron a bust no more |url=https://www.tampabay.com/sports/high-schools/2019/04/25/former-armwood-star-byron-cowart-a-bust-no-more/ |access-date=December 10, 2020 |website=tampabay.com}} Entering college, he was regarded as the #1 overall recruit by ESPN and Rivals.{{cite web|url=https://n.rivals.com/content/prospects/2015/byron-cowart-5641 |title=Byron Cowart, 2015 Strongside Defensive End - Rivals.com |publisher=N.rivals.com |date= |accessdate=2022-08-31}}

College career

Cowart was the #1 high school recruit and committed to Auburn in 2015. However he struggled to get playing time in his first two seasons.{{cite web |date=December 17, 2017 |title=Former No. 1 prospect Byron Cowart transfers to Maryland after two seasons at Auburn |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/terps/bs-sp-byron-cowart-maryland-transfer-1220-story.html |access-date=December 10, 2020 |website=baltimoresun.com}} After appearing in the team's first two games, Cowart left Auburn early in the 2017 season and attended Hillsborough Community College (HCC) near his Florida home. In December he announced he was transferring to Maryland for the 2018 season.

Professional career

{{NFL predraft

| height ft = 6

| height in = 3

| weight = 298

| dash = 5.16

| ten split = 1.81

| twenty split = 2.99

| shuttle = 4.62

| cone drill = 7.66

| vertical = 30.0

| broad ft = 9

| broad in = 3

| bench = 26

| arm span = 33 3/4

| hand span = 10

| wonderlic =

| note = All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day{{cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/byron-cowart/3200434f-5732-4122-3511-2c7451a7a586 |title=Byron Cowart Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |website=NFL.com |access-date=November 1, 2021}}{{cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1002652&DraftYear=2019 |title=Byron Cowart, Maryland, DT, 2019 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football |website=draftscout.com |access-date=November 1, 2021}}

}}

=New England Patriots=

Cowart was selected by the New England Patriots in the fifth round (159th overall) of the 2019 NFL draft.{{cite web |date=April 27, 2019 |title=NFL draft 2019: Patriots trade up, draft DE Byron Cowart with the 159th pick |url=https://www.patspulpit.com/2019/4/27/18519983/nfl-draft-2019-new-england-patriots-trade-up-draft-de-byron-cowart-with-the-159th-pick-maryland |website=Pats Pulpit}} He played in five games as a rookie.

Cowart was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list by the team on October 12, 2020,{{Cite news |last=Inabinett, Mark |date=October 12, 2020 |title=Patriots put Byron Cowart on reserve/COVID-19 |work=AL.com |url=https://www.al.com/sports/2020/10/patriots-put-byron-cowart-on-reservecovid-19.html |access-date=October 29, 2020}} and was activated on October 21.{{Cite news |date=October 21, 2020 |title=Patriots' Byron Cowart: Returns from coronavirus |work=CBSSports.com |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/patriots-byron-cowart-returns-from-coronavirus/ |access-date=October 29, 2020}}

In Week 14 of the 2020 season against the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday Night Football, Cowart recorded his first career sack on Jared Goff during the 24–3 loss.{{cite news |date=December 10, 2020 |title=Patriots vs. Rams - Game Recap - December 10, 2020 - ESPN |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/recap?gameId=401220349 |access-date=December 12, 2020 |website=ESPN.com |language=en |agency=Associated Press}}

On August 31, 2021, Cowart was placed on the reserve/physically unable to perform list to start the season.{{cite web|title=Patriots Make Roster Moves to Reach 53-Man Roster Limit; Acquire OL Yasir Durant in a Trade with Kansas City|url=https://www.patriots.com/news/patriots-make-roster-moves-to-reach-53-man-roster-limit-acquire-ol-yasir-durant-|website=Patriots.com|date=September 1, 2021}} On July 22, 2022, the Patriots waived Cowart.{{cite web|title=Patriots release DL Byron Cowart; WR Malcolm Perry placed on Reserve/Retired |url=https://www.patriots.com/news/patriots-release-dl-byron-cowart-wr-malcolm-perry-placed-on-reserve-retired|website=Patriots.com|date=July 22, 2022}}

=Indianapolis Colts=

On July 23, 2022, Cowart was claimed by the Indianapolis Colts.{{cite web|title=Colts Claim DT Byron Cowart Off Waivers, Waive DE Scott Patchan|url=https://www.colts.com/news/byron-cowart-new-england-patriots-claimed-waivers-scott-patchan-roster-move|website=Colts.com|date=July 23, 2022}}

= Kansas City Chiefs =

Cowart signed with the Kansas City Chiefs on March 24, 2023.{{cite web|title=Chiefs sign 2 free-agent defensive tackles|url=https://www.arrowheadpride.com/2023/3/25/23655611/chiefs-free-agency-2023-sign-byron-cowart-phil-hoskins|work=Arrowhead Pride|publisher=SB Nation|date=March 25, 2023}} He was released on May 10, 2023.{{cite news|url=https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2023/05/10/chiefs-sign-three-including-cb-lamar-jackson/amp/|title=Chiefs sign three, including CB Lamar Jackson|date=May 10, 2023|first=Josh|last=Alper|publisher=NBC Sports ProFootballTalk|access-date=May 11, 2023|archive-date=May 11, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230511004135/https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2023/05/10/chiefs-sign-three-including-cb-lamar-jackson/amp/|url-status=dead}}

= Houston Texans =

On May 18, 2023, Cowart signed with the Houston Texans.{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Charean |date=2023-05-18 |title=Texans sign Byron Cowart, waive Eric Tomlinson |url=https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2023/05/18/texans-sign-byron-cowart-waive-eric-tomlinson/ |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=ProFootballTalk |language=en-US}} He was released on August 29, 2023.{{cite web|title=Texans announce initial 53-man roster|url=https://www.houstontexans.com/news/texans-announce-initial-53-man-roster|website=HoustonTexans.com|date=August 29, 2023}}

=Miami Dolphins=

On September 19, 2023, Cowart was signed to the practice squad of the Miami Dolphins.{{Cite web |date=2023-09-19 |title=Dolphins signing former Patriots DL Byron Cowart to the practice squad |url=https://dolphinswire.usatoday.com/2023/09/19/dolphins-signing-byron-cowart-practice-squad/ |access-date=2023-09-19 |website=Dolphins Wire |language=en-US}} He was not signed to a reserve/future contract after the season and thus became a free agent upon the expiration of his practice squad contract.{{Cite news|url=https://dolphinswire.usatoday.com/lists/dolphins-2024-reserve-future-contracts/|newspaper=USA Today|title=Dolphins sign 8 players to reserve/future contracts after 2023 season|date=January 15, 2024|author=Masala, Mike}}

=Chicago Bears=

On March 18, 2024, Cowart signed with the Chicago Bears.{{cite web|title=Roster Move: Bears sign DE Byron Cowart|url=https://www.chicagobears.com/news/roster-move-bears-sign-de-byron-cowart|author=Mayer, Larry|website=ChicagoBears.com|date=March 18, 2024}} He was released on August 27, and re-signed to the practice squad.{{cite web|title=Roster Moves: Bears reach 53-man roster limit|url=https://www.chicagobears.com/news/roster-moves-bears-reach-53-man-roster-limit-2024|author=Mayer, Larry|website=ChicagoBears.com|date=August 27, 2024}}{{cite web|title=Roster Moves: Bears sign players to practice squad|url=https://www.chicagobears.com/news/roster-moves-bears-sign-players-to-practice-squad-2024|author=Mayer, Larry|website=ChicagoBears.com|date=August 28, 2024}} Cowart was signed to the active roster in October 5.{{cite web |title=Bears Add Byron Cowart to Roster Amid Defensive Injuries |url=https://bvmsports.com/2024/10/05/bears-add-byron-cowart-to-roster-amid-defensive-injuries/ |website=BVM Sports |access-date=6 October 2024}}

=New York Jets=

On March 13, 2025, Cowart signed with the New York Jets.{{cite web|title=Jets Sign DT Byron Cowart|url=https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/jets-sign-byron-cowart-03-13-2025|author=Greenberg, Ethan|website=NewYorkJets.com|date=March 13, 2025}}