Days ago, Jerry Jones claimed that the defense was one of the reasons the Dallas Cowboys didn’t reach the latest playoffs. Cobie Durant, the new cornerback for America’s Team, in some ways agrees with his new General Manager.
“Defense wins championships, offense sells tickets. Just get the ball back to Dak Prescott is my new motive. I don’t have to be no superhero. Just go out there and be me. Play 11 as one,” he promised to his new quarterback via Jon Machota.
The Cowboys made a strong push this offseason to address what was their primary weakness. Can they make a major leap next season and reach the Super Bowl?
New faces on the Cowboys’ defense
The Dallas Cowboys have been aggressive this offseason, prioritizing veteran experience and high-impact trades to rebuild a defense that struggled in 2025.
The headline move was the blockbuster trade for pass rusher Rashan Gary from the Green Bay Packers, giving new Defensive Coordinator Christian Parker a premier edge threat.
To bolster the secondary, Dallas signed safeties Jalen Thompson and P.J. Locke, while also adding cornerback Cobie Durant on a one-year deal to provide much-needed depth and ball-hawking ability.
Jones also turns to the draft
For the first time since 2008, Jerry Jones‘ Cowboys hold two first-round selections (No. 12 and No. 20, the latter acquired from Green Bay), giving them the elite capital needed to snag defensive superstars like linebacker Sonny Styles or trade up even higher to secure the final pieces of their championship puzzle.
- 1st round, 12th overall
- 1st round, 20th
- 3rd round, 92nd
- 4th round, 112th
- 5th round, 152nd
- 5th round, 177th (compensatory)
- 5th round, 180th (compensatory)
- 7th round, 218th
Durant brings experience to the NFC East
During his last season with the Rams, Cobie Durant proved to be a high-impact playmaker, recording 40 tackles, 7 pass deflections, and 3 interceptions—including a pick-six—across 17 regular-season games.
He was even more dominant in the postseason, leading the league with 3 interceptions in just three playoff games. He now joins the Dallas Cowboys on a one-year, $5.5 million deal, providing veteran versatility to Christian Parker’s secondary where he is expected to rotate between the outside and nickel packages alongside DaRon Bland.