Cornerbacks the Cowboys Will Hope Improve Their Play in 2026
In 2025, the Dallas Cowboys' secondary is the worst in the entire NFL. Dallas, on average, lets opposing quarterbacks throw up over 252 passing yards per game, which ranks dead last in the league. For reference, quarterbacks in 2025 playing the Cowboys would put up numbers eerily similar to Aaron Rodgers MVP season in 2020, not the formula for winning football. Dallas’ secondary heading into 2026 has added key pieces to try to improve the struggling issue. They drafted Caleb Downs from Ohio State, signed safeties Jalen Thompson and P.J. Locke, and added defensive coordinator Christian Parker from the Eagles. With the pieces they added, Dallas still needs help from players who are already on the roster. The Cowboys, who are currently in win-now mode and with tough stretches in their schedule all throughout the season, need certain cornerbacks to improve their play to help the Cowboys return to the postseason.
Caelen Carson
When the Cowboys drafted Caelen Carson in the fifth round in 2024, many people believed that they got one of the steals of the draft. His impressive physical frame and strong performance during OTAs in his rookie year led many to believe that Dallas had indeed found a draft steal. However, as the season progressed, he struggled to meet the expectations set for him. Granted, Carson has been injured throughout his first two seasons in the league, playing a total of only 14 games of a possible 28, but when he has played, the signs that were there in college and in the offseason did not translated as many hoped. Carson, in college, brought an aspect of tackling and physicality that was missing in the Dallas cornerback room for many years, and his ability to press on the outside is what drew his attention to the Cowboys. Now entering his third season in the NFL with a new defensive coordinator once again, Carson must elevate his performance not only for Dallas' sake but also to secure his spot in the NFL for many more years to come.
Shavon Revel Jr.
Another young cornerback that Dallas hopes will elevate his performance is second-year Shavon Revel Jr. The Cowboys selected Revel in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft, and had it not been for the ACL injury he suffered in September of his final college season, he would have likely been regarded as the best cornerback in the 2025 draft class. The problem for Revel is that his knee, while not injured, still seems to give him discomfort, most notably in the Detroit game, where he was constantly adjusting and touching his knee brace. Revel, similar to Carson, was a willing tackler in college, and his defensive IQ was higher than most cornerbacks in his class. His length and his athleticism were traits that this Dallas cornerback room simply did not have. Under this new Christian Parker scheme, being able to communicate and distinguish what the offense is doing is key, and for the relief of Revel, he carries the traits needed to succeed in this scheme. In order to be on the field a lot this season, not only will Revel need to improve his play, but he will also need to trust his knee and continue his communication on the backend.
