As offseason moves from winter and spring began shaping on-field outcomes through summer, several early concerns about weakness spots on the Cowboys’ roster faded. Linebackers looked stronger than expected, the left tackle position seemed settled with Tyler Guyton earning the job, and the edge-rush depth appeared adequate. Yet one issue remains prominent: cornerback. The Cowboys were hit hard by injuries and inconsistent play last season, and their only notable offseason addition at the position was free-agent Cobie Durant.
Entering Sunday night’s Week 1 opener, the cornerback picture is far from solid. The first unofficial depth chart lists DaRon Bland as the starting corner, while the other starter spot is left undecided, labeled as “Cobie Durant OR Shavon Revel.”
The Cornerback Dilemma
Every team’s initial depth chart reflects questions dressed up with optimism, and Dallas is no exception. The cornerback slot presents the most unresolved area, with both Bland and Revel coming off disappointing and injury-plagued 2025 seasons. Injuries were a significant factor for both players.
Revel underwent ACL surgery that ended his final season at East Carolina in 2024. The Cowboys drafted him in the third round, but a setback pushed his NFL debut to Week 11. By that point, the secondary was already in disarray, and Revel, as a rookie, was unable to catch up.
Bland also dealt with a persistent foot injury that required surgery. Although he tried to play, he was clearly limited and ultimately sidelined for the season. In terms of quarterback targets, Revel allowed a passer rating of 126.1, while Bland faced a 103.3 rating. Bland had been a playmaker earlier, with 14 interceptions in 34 games over his first two NFL seasons, but has not intercepted in his last 19 games, dating back to the foot injury.
Cobie Durant: The Primary Addition at Cornerback
Durant was the Cowboys’ most significant addition at cornerback this offseason. They also drafted Devin Moore in the fourth round, but Moore has battled injuries and has not yet established himself as ready for regular NFL action.
Depth behind Durant and Revel is not robust. Journeyman Amer Speed sits behind the top pair, a player who has appeared on five teams in four years and has only 17 NFL games to his name. Behind them, Caelen Carson—an oft-injured 2024 fifth-round pick—gets listed as Bland’s backup.
The Plan for Cornerbacks: “You’ll See Them All Play”
There is concern about the Cowboys’ depth at cornerback, especially since the team allocated more resources to other areas of the defense and relied heavily on health. Caleb Downs is listed as a defensive back with nickel duties, offering versatility but leaving cornerback depth as a question mark.
Head coach Brian Schottenheimer expressed a pragmatic view: the coaching staff plans to deploy multiple players at corner, depending on packages and game plans. He noted that Durant and Revel would share time, and that Downs would contribute in flexible roles. The takeaway is that the rotation may be heavy, with multiple players seeing playing time to maximize matchups.
Bottom line
Dallas heads into Week 1 with uncertainty at cornerback overshadowing other positions. While the rest of the defense showed promise in the offseason, the cornerback group lacks proven depth beyond Durant, and the overall unit will depend on health and coaching rotations to handle opponents’ passing games. The season’s early weeks will reveal whether the Cowboys’ plan to mix and match at cornerback will hold up under real game pressure.
