Is Newly-Signed Cowboys CB Cobie Durant A Starter for Coach Christian Parker?

FRISCO - Given that this signing occurred just before the clock struck midnight on Thursday, at least we can't accuse the Dallas Cowboys of being "asleep at the wheel.''

The Cowboys just made what could be an important offseason move by signing Los Angeles Rams cornerback Cobie Durant to a one-year deal that is worth "up to'' $5.5 million, per reports.

That's a total of eight "outside'' players acquired by Dallas since the start of the process on Monday, and while it hasn't all been about "busting the budget,'' as owner Jerry Jones pledged it would be, it has now produced a trio of top-of-the-rotation players on defense. ...

Or maybe even three full-time "difference-makers.''

Dallas absolutely thinks that about Packers ex Rashan Gary, the EDGE acquired in trade. Same thing with the signing of do-it-all safety Jalen Thompson.

And now comes another guy who can be in that conversation in Durant. 

Cornerback had been acknowledged as a major need here, and before this move, we started wondering if it was time to turn our attention to the NFL Draft, when in late April the Cowboys might’ve been “forced’‘ to take a corner like LSU’s Mansoor Delane at pick No. 12 or a prospect like Tennessee’s Jermod McCoy or Clemson’s Aveion Terrell) when they pick again at 20.

But ...

This move on Durant, 28, frees them from having to “draft for need.’‘

Durant (5-11, 180) has been a standout playmaker for a Rams secondary that this week acquired two superior players in Chiefs corners Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson.

In his rookie year with the Rams, Durant made the jump as a fourth-round pick from South Carolina State to a contributor, recording three interceptions.

Last year, he started all 17 games in the regular season and had three picks. And then his numbers exploded in the postseason, as Durant showed off his ballhawking abilities with a trio of playoff interceptions, including two off of Bears quarterback Caleb Williams in a memorable Rams playoff win.

Durant, who has played on the boundary and in the slot, can be a fit in Dallas for new coordinator Christian Parker in part due to those ball skills, but in part due to the vacancies here. DaRon Bland is coming back from an injury, as promising-but-unproven 2025 rookie Shavon Revel Jr. did last season.

There are “young journeymen’‘ here like Caelen Carson, Josh Butler, Reddy Stewart and Trikweze Bridges ... but Durant has skins on the wall they do not possess.

A cynic might say that Durant being a “difference-maker’‘ in Dallas is a relative thing because the Cowboys are the NFL’s worst on that side of the ball. But free agency, we preach often, is supposed to be about “filling a need.’‘

And to Dallas’ credit, it just did that with Cobie Durant.

This move on Durant, 28, frees them from having to "draft for need.''

Durant (5-11, 180) has been a standout playmaker for a Rams secondary that this week acquired two superior players in Chiefs corners Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson.

In his rookie year with the Rams, Durant made the jump as a fourth-round pick from South Carolina State to a contributor, recording three interceptions.

Last year, he started all 17 games in the regular season and had three picks. And then his numbers exploded in the postseason, as Durant - who has a notable 72-inch wing span - showed off his ballhawking abilities with a trio of interceptions, including two off of Bears quarterback Caleb Williams in a memorable Rams playoff win.

Durant, who has played on the boundary and in the slot, can be a fit in Dallas for new coordinator Christian Parker in part due to those ball skills, but in part due to the vacancies here. DaRon Bland is coming back from an injury, as promising-but-unproven 2025 rookie Shavon Revel Jr. did last season.

There are "young journeymen'' here like Caelen Carson, Josh Butler, Reddy Stewart and Trikweze Bridges ... but Durant has skins on the wall they do not possess.

A cynic might say that Durant being a "difference-maker'' in Dallas is a relative thing because the Cowboys are the NFL's worst on that side of the ball. But free agency, we preach often, is supposed to be about "filling a need.''

And to Dallas' credit, it just did that with Cobie Durant.