FRISCO – The Dallas Cowboys believe they have — if only everybody were healthy — one of the best cornerback rooms in the NFL.
Seriously. Think about it.
The playmakers in Trevon Diggs and Daron Bland. The first-round talent in Kaiir Elam. The rookie promise of Shavon Revel. And more.
Alas, Diggs is rehabbing and it might be until midseason before he’s right. Revel could be ready much sooner, but he’s an unknown. Elam is until further notice a Buffalo Bills “bust.”
So, as training camp in Oxnard approaches, the group is, as our Mike Fisher has termed it …
“Bland and Blander.”
Should Dallas make a call for veteran free agent help now? That’s not the plan; Fish says they will do so only once they get to camp and come to the realization that what they have won’t cut cut it. And Fish also offers up four names on the “Break Glass In Case Of Cornerback Emergency” List …
To wit …
Stephon Gilmore He won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2019, but that was a long time ago. What has “Gilly” done for ’em lately? He’s served as a Cowboys locker room leader two years ago and he’s now free again. But he’s also going to turn 35 years old in September.
He’s a comforting name … but that age is concerning.
Asante Samuel Jr. The former Los Angeles Chargers corner is just 25 years old, but he is coming off shoulder and neck injuries that limited him to just four games played last year. He will be undergoing a medical re-check at the end of this month. … and that’s the reason he is choosing to wait.
With second-round draft pedigree, Samuel probably still thinks he can get paid. If he’s right, that lessens the chances at The Star.
Rasul Douglas The Bills ex plays a physical style at corner and he makes plays; he had five interceptions and a pick-six touchdown in 2023.
He will turn 30 next month, but even with that, we keep asking ourselves why the Bills aren’t trying to bring him back.
Mike Hilton The veteran Hilton likes to tackle and can play in the slot and in his eight seasons has been an all-over-the-field weapon with 13 interceptions, 11.5 sacks and 34 pass breakups.
At 31, we wonder if Hilton is the guy in this group sitting in a power position … maybe wanting to wait for the right contending team at the right time for him.
That doesn’t make him a perfect match in Dallas, and maybe there is no such thing at all, with the Cowboys hoping they don’t have to “break the glass” to win at cornerback.
