The Dallas Cowboys defensive backs come in at No. 6 in our position group rankings, just ahead of the linebackers. This group doesn’t lack talent, but it has plenty of question marks. Trevon Diggs and rookie Shavon Revel Jr. will both start the year on the PUP list. Daron Bland is the best player in the group, but he’s looking for his next contract while likely playing out of position this year.
Malik Hooker and Donovan Wilson return as the starting safeties, and that’s a good thing? Maybe? Both are getting up there in age, and Wilson has struggled in coverage. There are depth pieces with experience—Juanyeh Thomas, Markquese Bell, Israel Mukuamu—but if injuries pile up again and this unit has to reshuffle, it could struggle mightily.
The Cowboys Secondary: Too Many Question Marks
What The Numbers Say
Statistically, the Cowboys’ pass defense wasn’t atrocious last year, but looking at those numbers in a vacuum is misleading. Dallas has a strong pass rush, which naturally takes pressure off the secondary. More importantly, their run defense was bad. Why throw the ball when you can run it at will?
Per FTN Fantasy, opposing quarterbacks completed 68.2% of their passes against Dallas (27th), averaged 7.9 yards per attempt (31st), and threw 28 touchdown passes (26th). Teams didn’t have to throw often, but when they did, they were successful.
Solid Core—When Healthy
On paper, the top of the Cowboys’ secondary looks strong: Diggs and Bland on the outside, with Hooker and Wilson on the back end. But there are plenty of question marks.
Diggs is a ballhawk but isn’t as sticky in coverage as you’d like—he’s also coming off a second straight knee surgery. Bland brings All-Pro traits in coverage, but he missed ten games last year with a broken foot and is looking for his next contract. He also might be playing out of position in 2025.
Hooker has been a staple at safety since 2021, and he’s been their most steady player. He’s solid, if not spectacular, against the run, but his pass defense grade of 57.8 ranks in the bottom half for safeties. Wilson has a similar profile, but grades out slightly worse in both coverage and against the run. He’s also a year older.
These four are proven veterans, but health and production concerns limit how high this secondary’s ceiling can be.
Depth Pieces
The rest of the Cowboys’ secondary is a grab bag of potential and question marks.
Revel Jr. was a steal in the third round and is exactly what the Cowboys want in a corner: long and rangy, and aggressive with the ball in the air. If he were healthy, he’d likely be in line to start. But he’s not. He’s still recovering from ACL surgery, and reports indicate he suffered a setback in his rehab. Time will tell how impactful he can be in year 1.
Kaiir Elam has impressed so far, but he simply hasn’t performed up to first-round pick standards, and the Buffalo Bills willingly parted ways with him. Andrew Booth is an intriguing but unproven wild card, and Caelen Carson and Josh Butler both ended 2024 on IR.
Bell, Mukuamu, and Thomas all bring versatility—they’ve each played multiple positions—but are they good enough at any one of them to be net positives?
If everyone stays healthy (unlikely), this group provides good depth and decent insurance. But if injuries hit again, this group will get stretched thin in a hurry.
Dallas Cowboys Defensive Backs, Final Verdict
The Cowboys’ secondary comes in at No. 6 in our position group rankings—middle of the pack, and that feels about right. There’s undeniable talent at the top, but durability and depth questions keep this unit from being a true strength. There are chaotic options to pursue, but it doesn’t appear likely that the team will pursue them.
If the starters stay healthy, Dallas can match up with most teams. But if even one domino falls—and they’ll already be starting the year shorthanded—the cracks appear fast. The Cowboys need the pass rush to do its job, the corners to stay on the field, and the depth guys to punch above their weight if they want this secondary to hold up for 17 games—and hopefully beyond.
Main Photo: [Tim Heitman] – USA Today Sports
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