The team added veteran safety Jalen Thompson from Arizona and corner Cobie Durant from the Rams, pairing Thompson with Malik Hooker to form a workable safety duo. Durant arrives on a one-year deal with up to $5.5 million, leaving the door open for the Cowboys to pursue either a nickel corner to keep Bland outside or an outside defender capable of moving Bland inside.
Predraft signals have pointed toward both boundary and slot options, as the organization has met with expected boundary players (Mansoor Delane, Jermod McCoy, Colton Hood) and slot targets (Avieon Terrell, D’Angelo Ponds, Keionte Scott). The versatility in these discussions underscores the team’s intent to improve the secondary in multiple ways.
DaRon Bland, who signed a four-year, $90 million extension in 2025, has faced scrutiny as an overpaid player by some analysts. His injury history—missing significant time over the past two seasons—combined with a 65.2 overall grade from Pro Football Focus in 2025 has fueled debate about the contract’s value relative to on-field output.
If the Cowboys use one of their first-rounders on an outside corner, Bland could shift to the slot, allowing Dallas to maintain outside coverage talent while maximizing the perceived value of the expensive deal. This approach would address depth concerns and align with the team’s broader goal of upgrading a defense that underperformed in 2025.
Overall, Dallas is taking measured, strategic steps to strengthen the defense before the 2026 draft, aiming to create a more resilient secondary and return to playoff contention with a more balanced, versatile back end.
