The No. 1 goal for the Dallas Cowboys this offseason was to improve their defense. That wasn’t going to be all that difficult to accomplish, considering the 2025 defense was the worst in the NFL and among the very worst in franchise history.
However, getting them back to a level that could help them compete against the top NFC teams was certainly going to be a challenge. There is no debate that the Cowboys added more talent to their defense, but how those pieces fit together remains to be seen.
More importantly, it’s going to be fascinating to see how Christian Parker feels about incumbent players versus the talent that was added this offseason with his specific vision in mind. That should set up for several big camp battles that are worth paying attention to this offseason.
Dallas Cowboys' offseason cornerback battle will be must-see TV
The cornerback room for the Dallas Cowboys remains one of the murkiest going into the offseason workouts. Daron Bland is rehabbing from yet another foot injury ,and he is the only cornerback on the roster with a proven track record in Dallas.
It remains to be seen when he exactly will return to the field, but that time away could give the rest of the cornerbacks on the depth chart plenty of opportunities to get more reps and impress the new coaching staff.
In a recent article by ESPN, they named 10 of the biggest positional battles to watch across the NFL this offseason. And as you might have guessed, the cornerback position for the Cowboys made the list.
Here is a snippet of what ESPN had to say about the Cobie Durant vs. Shavon Revel battle that is expected to take place ahead of the season.
“Presumably, Revel and Durant are battling for outside corner snaps opposite DaRon Bland. But if both hit, they could kick Bland into his better position over the slot. Dallas' CB room was a liability last season, and these two players have the greatest potential to change that this season.”
The expectation is that Durant will get the first shot on the outside, given his experience. He was a reliable starter for the Rams last season, but they did need to hide his physical limitations at times, which will be a concern for Parker and Co.
Durant can be an incredibly useful cornerback, but there is no doubt that Revel has the higher ceiling, given his size and athleticism. Can Revel ever reach that ceiling? It seems unlikely, but he is healthier this year and will have the benefit of going through the entire offseason plan, which helps quite a bit.
Revel missed all of training camp and the preseason last year, and it really hindered his early NFL development. He needs to prove that he can stay healthy and that his knee is no longer a concern before he gets more first-team opportunities.
The Cowboys would love for Revel to win this job, but they certainly won’t give it to him. Durant provides a high floor for Dallas, and that’s what gives him a leg up on the former third-round pick from East Carolina.
And while Durant is the clear-cut favorite, don’t count out Revel taking a huge step forward in Year 2.
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