The Dallas Cowboys did exactly what they needed to do this offseason to be a better team in 2026. They retained wide receiver George Pickens, and they also made significant additions to the defensive side of the ball. It should all add up to Dallas returning to the playoff mix.
While every move will play a part in that happening, one NFL analyst is determined to identify the team’s best move. In a recent piece for ESPN, senior writer Bill Barnwell pinpointed the best and worst moves of the offseason for every NFC team.
For the Cowboys, Barnwell made a surprising selection, calling the signing of cornerback Cobie Durant as Dallas’ best move.
Cobie Durant could be a huge addition for the Dallas Cowboys' secondary
Again, Dallas did quite a few things this offseason that could be applauded. They kept George Pickens for another season without having to commit to him long term, used the 11th pick of the draft on Caleb Downs, a player many believe is the best in the 2026 class, and signed veteran safety Jalen Thompson, who's going to play all over the secondary.
Despite that, Barnwell argued that adding Durant was the best move, even while admitting that the corner isn’t a superstar. The reason the analyst feels so strongly about the move is that Dallas signed him to an extremely team-friendly deal.
"I'm enthused about quite a few of the moves the Cowboys made on defense this offseason, including the decision to move up one spot and draft safety Caleb Down sat No. 11," Barnwell wrote. "But when we consider the cost involved, there might not be a better move than signing Durant away from the Rams on a one-year deal for about as much as Dak Prescott makes per game."
Durant signed with the Cowboys on a one-year deal worth $4 million. However, as Barnwell highlighted, he’s a solid corner. He moved around some in the secondary during his time with the Los Angeles Rams, but he’s expected to be an outside corner with Dallas. If he can deliver improved play from what the Cowboys had in 2025, Barnwell may be right.
The Rams selected Durant in the fourth round of the 2022 Draft, and he immediately emerged as a contributor for the team. He played in 13 games as a rookie, starting just one, but recorded three interceptions. He eventually developed into a full time starter, starting 39 of the 61 games he played during his four years in L.A.
In those 61 games, he recorded seven interceptions, two that he returned for a touchdown, 26 pass deflections, 141 tackles, and two sacks. Now, he’ll try to take his game to another level with the Cowboys, while playing on a very cheap, one-year contract.
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