Blogging The Boys
The Cowboys zone defense was a disaster last season, but being too dependent on man in 2026 could be a tough transition as well.
Do the Cowboys have the horses at CB?
It’s only fair to admit the Eagles’ cornerback room is significantly better than the Cowboys’. Just last year, Mitchell and DeJean both earned All-Pro honors. Going into 2026, Dallas is betting on a lot of players surrounded by question marks.
Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer established early in the offseason that they view DaRon Bland as someone who can shut down one side of the field. Bland is a former All-Pro, but he’s had two foot surgeries in the last couple of years.
Cobie Durant is a starting-caliber cornerback, but if asked to be CB1, it’s tough to view him as a shutdown corner. Meanwhile, Shavon Revel Jr. brings the upside but he has yet to prove anything at the NFL level. This will essentially be his first full NFL offseason.
The Cowboys are betting on safety Caleb Downs to man the nickel spot early on. But perhaps the one thing he didn’t show as much in his Ohio State film is man coverage (because he wasn’t asked to).
Now, I’m not saying the Cowboys can’t run man coverage. But it’s something Parker will likely aim to get some answers on quickly in Oxnard, California. Whatever his final decision is, I would bet on a lot more zone from his Cowboys defense than what he ran in Philly.
As for the Cowboys’ cornerback depth, second year player Shavon Revel Jr. is an interesting piece to the puzzle.
2026 Projections
Role: Starting CB
Roster Chance: 100%Revel’s path to a starting role became clearer when veteran Trevon Diggs was waived in late December. The Cowboys signed Cobie Durant in free agency, he has versatility to play outside or in the slot and will battle Revel for regular-season reps. With high offseason praise from coaches, including his new defensive coordinator Christian Parker, Revel is on track to improve on his rookie season.
With his size and zone skills, Revel is a great fit for what Parker is expected to run in Dallas. He’s not a ballhawk like Bland or Diggs, more akin to former Cowboys CB Byron Jones in how he plays. But even if he doesn’t provide many turnovers, Revel can do wonders for this defense by stabilizing his side of the field.
Dallas’ cornerbacks were put in horrible spots last year by issues up front, but they had their own issues with inexperience and injuries. Now healthy and finally getting a full offseason, Revel has a great...
