Who will start in the Dallas Cowboys defensive secondary?

Following a very successful NFL Draft, who will be selected to start in the Dallas Cowboys retooled defensive secondary?

The defensive focus for the Dallas Cowboys was evident during the 2017 NFL Draft as seven of their nine selections were on that side of the ball. This was easily the biggest change on the team’s roster as the Cowboys front office finally gave defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli more talent to mold.

When you look back on the past few years, the Cowboys best overall cornerback has arguably been veteran Orlando Scandrick. The30-year old defensive back found himself in the center of erroneous trade rumors during the NFL Draft after Dallas selected three cornerbacks.

Scandrick should rest assured that the team will need him more than ever this season to lead these young players into battle.

Defensive Backs on the Cowboys roster:

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Nolan Carroll
Orlando Scandrick
Byron Jones
Jeff Heath
Robert Blanton
Chidobe Awuzie
Jourdan Lewis
Xavier Woods
Anthony Brown
Marquez White
Leon McFadden
Jameill Showers
Kavon Frazier
Sammy Seamster
Thomas Duke
Jeremiah McKinnon

The players above are all of the defensive backs on the Cowboys current roster.

This is the youngest Cowboys secondary in recent history and could be the youngest in the NFL. Three of the defensive backs drafted this year have a pretty good chance to start. Awuzie coming out of college looks like a better outside cornerback than anyone currently on the depth chart.

Chidobe could also line up as a safety and is one of the best blitzing corners coming into the NFL. He should have an immediate impact on this secondary and should find a starting role against the New York Giants.

If Lewis gets his legal issues resolved prior to the start of the season, he should also push to have a starting role as he should turn into the best cover cornerback on the roster. Both players have active hands and could find themselves taking the ball away multiple times for this defense.

Brown should be better in his second year in the NFL and is the favorite to retain a big role in the secondary. Scandrick could return to his starting slot role if he can continue to stay healthy. Free agent signing Carroll and the other rookies should push for playing time early in camp.

But the most interesting battle could be at safety. If Woods could translate his college skill to the NFL, he could be an immediate impact player and should push for a starting role next to Byron Jones. Free agent acquisition Blanton and the sophomore Frazier should also compete for the starting strong safety role.

Next: Dallas Cowboys 2017 NFL Draft: Grading Each Pick

The future of the defensive backfield of the Dallas Cowboys has never been brighter. And this year’s crop of players should give the team a tremendous edge when it comes to closing out football games.

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