The Dallas Cowboys would not have been busy on Day 3 of the NFL Draft had they not traded back from the No. 20 overall pick. They added two fourth-round picks in the deal, one of which was used on Florida cornerback Devin Moore at pick No. 114.
While first-rounder Caleb Downs is expected to see time at nickel in Christian Parker’s defense, labeling him as just one position would be selling him short. He's going to play everywhere. With that in mind, Moore was the only true cornerback Dallas selected among its seven picks.
That gives Moore a puncher's chance at cracking the starting lineup as a rookie. Cowboys fans shouldn't go expecting that, but vice president of player personnel Will McClay clearly has high hopes for the former Gator (h/t Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram).
“The long athletic corner that can play press, he can play off, he can play zone schemes. And when you do pattern-match and some different things in defense, he can do those.
He understands spacing and stuff like that. He has the ability to tackle. He’s a big guy who can bend and run and change directions, mirror, double move routes, things like that.”
Will McClay raves about Dallas Cowboys' fourth-round pick Devin Moore
Moore did have trouble staying on the field at Florida, but he didn't miss a game in his final season. A massive 6-3 and 198 pounds, he fits the profile of CBs the Cowboys gravitate to.
You can never have too many cornerbacks, and the future of Dallas' cornerback room, despite signing former Los Angeles Rams starter Cobie Durant in free agency, does not inspire confidence.
Trevon Diggs is long gone, and the Cowboys have an easy out in DaRon Bland's contract next year if he struggles following another surgery on his left foot. Furthermore, 2025 third-round pick Shavon Revel Jr. had a forgettable rookie year and has lower leg concerns of his own.
As a fourth-round pick, Moore won't be tasked with saving the room. At the very least, though, they badly need him to develop into an important role player.
Luckily for Dallas, Christian Parker brings a strong resume developing young defensive backs. He was on Denver’s staff during Patrick Surtain's All-Pro ascent and helped guide an Eagles secondary that got immediate impact from rookies Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean in 2024 before they both earned All-Pro honors in Parker's final year with Philly.
Moore may not have an All-Pro ceiling, but as McClay notes, he excels in press coverage and is comfortable in zone and off-coverage. He did not commit a single penalty in coverage over his last two seasons at Florida, and only allowed 186 receiving yards in 2025.
No wonder the Cowboys chose him over several other talented cornerbacks still on the board at pick No. 114.
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