Machota: Cowboys 2026 potential starting defense

[StarW]

Doesn'tlook good. Downs at Nickle. only 1 starter from the rookies, does t look promising. Looks like we have a bunch of no names on D

I've been warming up on Barhum (I go tend to get a wee bit homerish this time of year). We'll be moving him around from ILB and situational PR. Lawrence will likely rotate in as well.

 

[rambo2]

They're not trading for brooks. Winters is a starting lb in the NFL. You can disagree with that if you want but it's a fact that Dallas isn't trading for Brooks.

I think that they are very high on Barham.

 

[BrassCowboy]

Safeties and defensive tackles look strong.

Gary has no Micah to lean on for any edge pressure/sack production.
Agreed that 2nd level/offball LB desperately needs Brooks.

Corner best summed up as Revels hopeful return to full health and second year leap along with Bland's fingers crossed uncertainty from injury return.
I do like Durant as the possible slot corner who they never replaced since Lewis left.

Your the 2nd person I read saying Durant as slot corner, but it is believed that Downs is our nickle cb. With Downs we are fine. I think Durant will be in the mix with Bland/Revel and may even start over Revel at first.

 

[Verdict]

I will be interested in finding out who ends up starting for us at CB this year. I’m sure Bland and Revel will be penciled in as starters to begin with but I’m not so sure it will shake out that way.

If Revel is fully healthy I think there’s a solid chance that he is one of the starters. I’m not so sure that Bland will end up being fully healthy, or the best starter on defense.

If the other corners show something (especially the Florida Gator rookie) I think Bland will be a possible trade out option for the Cowboys depending on how tradeable his contract is and how healthy he is.

Bland may be sent out in trade for premium draft pick compensation and his salary along with it. He’s a guy who would have trade value if he’s healthy and name recognition. These young guys will be hungry and motivated. And some of them have legitimate talent.

 

[DarkVader33]

I've been warming up on Barhum (I go tend to get a wee bit homerish this time of year). We'll be moving him around from ILB and situational PR. Lawrence will likely rotate in as well.

So he can return punts as well? Nice.

Just kidding, I know you meant pash rush but it took me a few seconds.

 

[Ironicalicon]

I think this is closer to what the depth chart looks like as of today

​

2026 offseason roster - Base 3-4 D​
POS​	Starter	2nd	3rd	4th
LDE​	Quinnen Williams	Otito Ogbonnia
NT​	Kenny Clark	Jay Toia	​	​
RDE​	Jonathan Bullard	LT Overton	Adedayo Odeleye	​
LOLB​	Donovan Ezeiruaku	James Houston	Sam Williams	Tyrus Wheat
LILB​	DeMarvion Overshown	Shemar James
RILB​	Dee Winters	Jaishawn Barham	Justin Barron
ROLB​	Rashan Gary	Malachi Lawrence	Marist Liufau	Isaiah Land
LCB​	DaRon Bland	Devin Moore	Caelen Carson	Josh Butler, Reddy Steward
SS​	Caleb Downs	Markquese Bell	Julius Wood	Zion Childress
FS​	Jalen Thompson	Malik Hooker	P.J. Locke	Alijah Clark
RCB​	Shavon Revel Jr.	Cobie Durant	Trikweze Bridges	Derion Kendrick, Corey Ballantine

Agreed. I appreciated his contribution but yours looks better.

 

[DarkVader33]

Your the 2nd person I read saying Durant as slot corner, but it is believed that Downs is our nickle cb. With Downs we are fine. I think Durant will be in the mix with Bland/Revel and may even start over Revel at first.

I really hope Downs is not our primary slot corner. He needs to be everywhere and take advantage of all his skills and keep teams guessing.

 

[Ironicalicon]

I think Durant will start over Revel

If it was today, yes, but let's hope by some point in training camp — like, halfway through at the latest — that Revel has won the job.

 

[Ironicalicon]

I really hope Downs is not our primary slot corner. He needs to be everywhere and take advantage of all his skills and keep teams guessing.

I don't think it'll be full-time but more situational. But really, I have no clue.

 

[75boyz]

Your the 2nd person I read saying Durant as slot corner, but it is believed that Downs is our nickle cb. With Downs we are fine. I think Durant will be in the mix with Bland/Revel and may even start over Revel at first.

I know it's going back a ways but he was like the best rated slot corner his rookie year but more recently I was impressed with how he made plays with the Rams even in their playoff games last year. I guess he reminded me of Jordan Lewis who I thought was a very underappreciated and effective slot corner with the Cowboys

So I guess I'll see what role CP has in store for him and all the secondary guys.

I thought Revel and Bland were pretty much penciled in as the outside starters.

 

[youngjerryjones]

He is a absolutely a starting safety in our base defense. He will be a little of a wild card in the nickel and expected to play a lot of slot CB. He will play some centerfield in those sets and some blitzing and some box. I think the Hamilton comparisons are the closest to what he will do in the nickel. Do it all kind of a guy

We will see

- Downs line up man on TE
- Downs line up in the slot
- Downs as the down safety on critical short distance
- Downs as the deep safety on Cover 1
- Downs as the nickel CB
- Downs at ILB on the 2nd Level

Downs will likely shape the defensive packages CP installs from Day 1. This is why this pick is so big, it’s like getting 2 starters in 1. Add to that he can be the green dot guy.

Jaishawn was noted to change the line calls as well, so read between the lines. We’re not getting a LBer.

 

[RonWashington]

Too many games in the NFL to consider starters . Draft all about depth hunting , getting players in numbers to contribute . I have hopes for significant help from


Edge Lawrence
LB Barham
CB. Moore

All should see time on the field and play making Dallas better

 

[erod]

Add Brooks, and this thing looks really strong with good rotational players.

Only worry is corner injuiries.

 

[RonWashington]

He’s not a draft pick but Winters hopefully a vast upgrade from LB’s who left

 

[ColoradoCowboy]

For the first time in a LONG time, I feel like we are going to HAVE to cut good players on defense. What a GREAT problem to have!

 

[Frosty]

While it looks good open paper.....I think there is still a glaring need a LB and CB. Although Revel was a rookie with no training camp, he was horrible last year and Bland is a liability when faced with experienced WRs and Teams over 500. Overshown cant stay healthy...so the arrow is point up at this point on paper

 

[Rayman70]

DE	91	Ogbonnia, Otito U/LAC		Overton, LT 26/4
NT	97	CLARK, KENNY T/GB	93	Toia, Jay 25/7
DT	92	Williams, Quinnen T/NYJ	98	BULLARD, JONATHAN U/NO	96	Odeleye, Adedayo SF25
LOLB	7	Gary, Rashan T/GB		Lawrence, Malachi 26/1	35	Liufau, Marist 24/3	91	Land, Isaiah SF25
LILB	0	Overshown, DeMarvion 23/3	50	James, Shemar 25/5
RILB		Winters, Dee T/SF		Barham, Jaishawn 26/3	45	Barron, Justin CF25
ROLB	6	Ezeiruaku, Donovan 25/2	53	Houston, James U/Cle	54	Williams, Sam 22/2	90	Wheat, Tyrus U/Det
LCB	26	Bland, DaRon 22/5		Moore, Devin 26/4	21	Carson, Caelen 24/5	31	Butler, Josh SF23
SS	34	Thompson, Jalen U/Arz	14	Bell, Markquese CF22	32	Wood, Julius SF25
FS	28	HOOKER, MALIK U/Ind	1	Locke, P.J. U/Den	38	Clark, Alijah CF25
RCB	2	Durant, Cobie U/LAR	34	Revel Jr., Shavon 25/3	25	Bridges, Trikweze W/LAC	15	Kendrick, Derion U/LAR
NB		Downs, Caleb 26/1	27	Steward, Reddy W/Min	36	BALLENTINE, COREY SF25	48	Childress, Zion SF25

Downs needs to be starting safety not nickel

 

[StarW]

So he can return punts as well? Nice.

Just kidding, I know you meant pash rush but it took me a few seconds.

You known how we like that player versatility lol

 

[quickccc]

My projected Defense starters (very early projection)

Edge: Rashan Gary ( Marist)
DE: Quinnen Williams
NT : Kenny Clark
DE Otito Ogbonnia (LT Overton)
Edge: Donovan Ezeiruaku/ (Malachi Lawrence)

MLB DeMarvion Overshown
LB: Dee Winters

CB: DaRon Bland
CB: Shavon Revel
CB: Cobie Durant

S/CB: Caleb Downs
S: Jalen Thompson (Malik Hooker)

 

[quickccc]

Downs needs to be starting safety not nickel

Keep thinking of it as Darren Woodson - who played both safety ..and easily handled slot coverage duties..