The Dallas Cowboys' secondary has been a point of contention this season, and the drama hasn’t stopped as we reach the midway point of the season. Cornerback Trevon Diggs is officially ruled out for Week 8 (h/t @MikeGarafolo) after he suffered a concussion outside of the team facility this week, which could force the Cowboys to be heavily involved in the trade market.
While adding a big name in a trade may be the direction that fans want the team to head in, America's Team may choose to try an internal solution. Rookie Shavon Revel Jr. has yet to make his NFL debut after the Cowboys selected him in the third round of April’s draft, and after missing the first seven games, Revel appears to be on track after he “practiced at full speed” during Friday’s practice, according to Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
Cowboys’ Secondary Gets a Boost with Rookie CB Shavon Revel Nearing Debut
Revel was considered one of the top cornerbacks in this year’s draft early in the process, but a torn ACL put his availability in doubt for the 2025 season. The Cowboys selected Revel with the 62nd overall pick regardless in part due to his ability as a cover corner with 17 passes defended and three interceptions over his final 15 starts.
Perhaps most importantly, Revel plays a style that defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus wants to play. Revel played in a zone-based scheme at East Carolina and also can play some man coverage thanks to his size at 6-foot-2 and 202 pounds with a 79 3/4” wingspan.
Most importantly, the Cowboys have a spot waiting for Revel. Diggs is out for the foreseeable future, and DaRon Bland has been an adequate solution on the other side, allowing 20 catches for 199 yards with an interception and a touchdown on 30 targets this season. Reddy Steward and Kaiir Elam have also struggled when they’ve seen the field, giving Revel an opportunity for at least a handful of snaps right away.
It may not be enough to transform the Cowboys’ leaky pass defense, which is allowing the second-highest net yards per attempt (7.2) entering Sunday’s game. But it could add an important reinforcement to a team that needs help going into the second half of the season.