The Dallas Cowboys should improve in pass coverage during the 2026 season, given that a capable and proven commodity is about to coach the cornerback room.
Per CBS Sports' Matt Zenitz, the Cowboys are expected to hire Arizona Cardinals cornerbacks coach Ryan Smith. Zenitz positioned Smith's hiring as a massive get, touting his resume from his experience with Arizona and the Virginia Tech Hokies.
Zenitz added that the 34-year-old, "helped Arizona allow the fewest passing TDs in the NFL the final 11 games in 2024. Before Arizona, [he] coached players like 2021 first-round pick Caleb Farley at the college level."
Smith has also coached on James Franklin's Penn State Nittany Lions staff, Pat Fitzgerald's Northwestern Wildcats staff, and at Elon University. He brings a resume with a myriad of experience and pit stops, not to mention tangible results.
Garrett Williams and Max Melton are some of Smith's other success stories with the Cardinals. While Jonathan Gannon's defenses often underwhelmed, his and Smith's work with the DBs was a strong spot. The trenches greatly suffered the past three seasons under Gannon, though the linebacker room was the weakest link of all.
Cowboy fans may not be thrilled to see a name associated with Arizona's defense the past several seasons, but Smith deserves the least scrutiny for how things turned out in the desert.
Cowboys Interviewed Colorado DC Robert Livingston for Safeties Coach
Smith may be joined on first-year defensive coordinator Christian Parker's staff by Colorado Buffaloes defensive coordinator Robert Livingston, who was also interviewed by Jerry Jones and Co. this week. Per The Dallas Morning News' Calvin Watkins, DeSoto native Zach Orr, who spent the previous two seasons as the Baltimore Ravens’ defensive coordinator, interviewed for a linebackers position.
Livingston is a Deion Sanders hire, so perhaps Jones is in contact with Coach Prime behind the scenes to lower the Buffs' payroll and nab the coach with the highest ceiling. Livingston is a notably highly compensated coordinator in the Big 12, and the return on investment wasn't great in 2025 in Boulder.
Colorado's pass rush under Warren Sapp was the biggest issue, ranking No. 135 out of 136 FBS teams in run defense. With that said, the unit allowed 222.5 yards per game and finished with just 12 sacks. That's on Livingston, though, with the Cincinnati Bengals, he notably developed Jessie Bates III.
Livingston is a proven NFL entity, much as Smith. Jones is focusing on rising stars in the coaching realm this offseason to rebuild his defensive staff. Maybe they can all have breakout seasons in their role at the same time, and the Cowboys will give opposing teams reasons to steal from them.