As the Dallas Cowboys pivot toward the 2025 NFL season, a glaring weakness looms in their secondary, the cornerback position.
Recent years have seen the unit besieged by injuries and turnover, prompting experts and insiders to forecast significant reinforcements before training camp kicks off.
Aging starters, shaky backups
All-Pro corner Trevon Diggs has struggled with health and performance. He missed the tail end of 2024 with a serious knee injury, his second major setback in just two years
Reports also reveal that he rehabbed partly away from team facilities in Miami, raising concerns about his commitment and potentially costing him a $500,000 fine if he doesn’t return to mandatory workouts.
The departure of Jourdan Lewis leaves another hole. Lewis, who recorded eight pass breakups during the last campaign, signed a three-year deal with Jacksonville in March. That loss strips Dallas of vital experience.
DaRon Bland remains the lone bright spot, a 2023 First-Team All-Pro whose dynamic playmaking helped define last year’s secondary.
But Bland‘s 2024 season was hindered by a foot injury that cost him most of the early season, leaving scant veteran depth behind him.
New faces bring hope, but health risks remain
In response, the Cowboys have taken tentative action. They landed former Buffalo first-round pick Kaiir Elam in a low-risk trade.
Elam, once a top prospect, has had an uneven run in Buffalo and now arrives in Dallas needing a career reset.
Boosting the potential of incoming rookies, Dallas drafted Shavon Revel Jr. in the third round.
Unfortunately, Revel is recovering from an ACL tear and may not be game-ready at camp’s start.
With Diggs possibly sidelined, and both Revel and Bland overcoming injuries, the pressure is on.
Potential veteran addition: Jamel Dean
One veteran name drawing attention is Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Jamel Dean.
Multiple outlets report that Dean, entering his sixth NFL season on a four-year, $52 million contract, is now viewed as a potential trade or release candidate due to his cap hit and Tampa Bay‘s depth additions.
Dean, 28, has delivered consistent Pro Football Focus coverage grades ranging from the low to mid70s over the last six years, peaking between 72.5 and 78.9, making him an attractive target in free agency or via trade.
A recent report lists Dallas among four realistic landing spots if Tampa Bay decides to move on.
From a scheme perspective, Dean fits well as a boundary defender thanks to his 6’1 frame, 4.3 speed, and physicality, and while he missed five games with hamstring and knee injuries in 2024, he still produced seven pass breakups and recorded two interceptions.
Moreover, releasing or trading him could free up over $12 million in cap space for Tampa Bay, creating motivation to explore his availability.
However, Dallas would have to weigh Dean‘s injury history and contract against their budget and projected cap space (over $32 million currently).
While the Cowboys prioritized younger potential in drafting Revel and trading for Elam, Dean would offer a near-immediate upgrade in experience and consistency at cornerback.
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