The Dallas Cowboys took their typical approach in free agency, which was more of a conservative outlook. Owner/general manager Jerry Jones looked for value deals instead of throwing large chunks of money at players.
Nonetheless, the Cowboys have added multiple players to the defensive side of the ball, including cornerback Cobie Durant. Although he isn't the biggest name signed in March, Durant's addition could pay big dividends in the long run.
The Cowboys' secondary needed to add reinforcements, and while they still may not be done with free agency, Durant gives them a defender whose played in some big games with the Los Angeles Rams and also has the versatility to play both inside and out. That's great help to have with less than a month to go before the 2026 NFL draft.
Cobie Durant Could Pay Dividends for Cowboys in 2026
Durant joined the Cowboys on a one-year, $4 million but fans should not be surprised if he ends up winning a starting job. Outside of DaRon Bland, who got a $92 million extension in 2025, the other two starting spots in the cornerback room are up for grabs.
And Durant has shown that he can be more than capable of starting in the NFL. In 61 career games (39 starts), he has logged 141 total tackles, 26 pass deflections, and seven interceptions. Over the last two seasons, he's finished with 14-plus starts each year, and his numbers on Pro Football Focus were more than acceptable.
Season | Overall Grade | Coverage Grade |
|---|---|---|
2025 | 66.7 (39th among 114 graded CBs) | 67.4 (38th among 114 graded CBs) |
2024 | 63.7 (65th among 117 graded CBs) | 61.0 (72nd among 117 graded CBs) |
While those numbers may not seem to be otherworldly, he clearly can bring a level of stability to the secondary. When taking a look at the depth chart currently, Shavon Revel Jr. is the only other name that would be asked to be the starter in Week 1. At the same time, his film as a rookie last year wasn't pleasant.
Revel appeared in seven games (five starts), recording 35 total tackles and three deflections. On PFF, he finished with a 35.2 overall grade (114th among 114 graded CBs) and a 34.6 coverage grade (114th among 114 graded CBs). Of course, these grades aren't an end-all, be-all, but they still give some insight into how players look on the field.
Under new defensive coordinator Christian Parker, the Cowboys are looking to raise the floor on that side of the ball and pass defense was a huge problem in 2025. They were 32nd in the NFL in pass defense (251.5), so they need things to get changed on the backend.
There's a good chance that Dallas adds another player to the secondary via the NFL draft. Regardless, Durant is a veteran who could be trusted to start if asked, and based on how this unit looked last year, that would be a welcome sight.