Why CB Will Johnson or Jahdae Barron will in the end be the Cowboys’ first-round decide

Because the NFL’s free company interval is in full swing, the Dallas Cowboys have loads of holes to fill on their roster. Whereas Dallas did get off to a great begin, re-signing their greatest impending free agent, Osa Odighizuwa, final week, there’s loads of work to be achieved if the Cowboys wish to area a aggressive staff this fall.

On Monday, as groups across the league began to achieve casual agreements with impending free brokers, one present want on Dallas’ roster went from a precedence to a gaping gap that should be addressed considerably. That want is the cornerback place, the place the Cowboys noticed long-time slot nook Jourdan Lewis depart to the Jacksonville Jaguars in free company.

Final week, there gave the impression to be a perception across the league that Dallas was gaining some momentum towards retaining the veteran nook. Clearly, that didn’t maintain up, and Lewis’ departure is not going to simply influence Dallas’ technique for the remainder of free company however will considerably have an effect on who the Cowboys goal within the first few rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft.

Even when the Cowboys had introduced Lewis again, there was nonetheless a powerful chance the Cowboys would draft a cornerback with one in every of their first three choices within the draft. The principle issue contributing to Dallas’ vital want on the cornerback spot is the long-term well being of former All-Professional cornerback Trevon Diggs.

Diggs, who will flip 27 in September, suffered a knee harm in direction of the top of the 2024 season that required surgical procedure in late January. The harm might drive Diggs to overlook a great portion of the 2025 common season, and there appears to be an out of doors likelihood the veteran shall be unable to play the complete 12 months.

With Diggs on the shelf for the foreseeable future, the Cowboys presently have two cornerbacks from the 2024 roster, DaRon Bland and Caelen Carson, presently beneath contract for subsequent season. Bland, like Diggs, suffered a critical harm final 12 months that compelled him to overlook greater than half of the common season. Whereas Bland did play properly as soon as he returned, the 25-year-old is getting into the ultimate season of his contract, making his long-term future in Dallas unsure.

The Cowboys had excessive hopes for rookie cornerback Caelen Carson getting into his first season within the league, however accidents and poor efficiency plagued the 23-year-old throughout his rookie 12 months. Nothing Carson placed on show final season ought to give them any confidence that they’ll enter the 12 months with him as one in every of their beginning cornerbacks.

Dallas did take a flier on a one-time gifted cornerback this week, acquiring former first-round pick Kaiir Elam from the Buffalo Payments on Wednesday afternoon. Whereas there’s a slight likelihood Elam might lastly discover his potential and play a major position, this transfer was extra seemingly for depth functions and gained’t come near fixing Dallas’ cornerback drawback.

Elam, who will flip 24 in Might, has not proven a lot promise throughout his three seasons within the league and can seemingly be a minimize candidate throughout coaching camp if he doesn’t carry out properly.

All uncertainty raises the query: Is the Cowboys’ want at cornerback vital sufficient to spend their first-round decide on the place? The reply is, and certain shall be except some free company or commerce occurs, a convincing sure.

The Cowboys had been rumored to have some curiosity in signing former 49ers’ cornerback Charvarius Ward in free company, however the veteran in the end earned a three-year $60M cope with the Indianapolis Colts on Monday evening. Signing Ward would have considerably improved Dallas’ cornerback group, nevertheless it appears not possible they might have come wherever near the greenback quantity he ended up getting from Indianapolis.

Few starting-caliber cornerbacks are left on the free-agent market after Monday’s barrage of strikes. Moreover, the Cowboys have given us no purpose to imagine they might pony up the cash it might take to accumulate one of many few high quality corners left on the open market.

Whereas issues could appear troublesome, fortunately for Dallas, there are two gifted cornerbacks on the prime of this draft that might make an on the spot influence on their protection. Will Johnson and Jahdae Barron are the highest two cornerbacks on this 12 months’s draft class, each presently projected to be drafted within the first 20 or so picks.

A bit of over every week in the past, the Cowboys formally met with Johnson and Barron in Indianapolis on the 2025 NFL Scouting Mix.

These formal conferences make it clear Dallas is a minimum of considerably excited about choosing a cornerback with its first-round choice. Whereas Dallas could also be tempted to go elsewhere at decide 12, a defensive again often is the participant who might have probably the most rapid influence on their staff.

Deciding on both Johnson or Barron would enhance Dallas’ protection and provides them some much-needed insurance coverage if A)Trevon Diggs is unable to play at a excessive degree once more or B) DaRon Bland in the end walks in free company after this 12 months.

As we get nearer to the beginning of the 2025 NFL Draft, cornerback will seemingly turn into linked to the Cowboys at decide 12 increasingly. Don’t be shocked if, come April, Will Johnson or Jahade Barron find yourself being Dallas’ choice within the first spherical.