Cowboys bringing in former 4th-round pick ranked as a top under-the-radar deal
· Yahoo Sports
The Dallas Cowboys had a ton of defensive holes to fill this offseason, and though they haven't completed the mission, they have raised the floor of the secondary by leaps and bounds. The Cowboys faced a ton of questions at both safety and cornerback, and they've brought in a series of veterans who give new defensive coordinator and secondary specialist Christian Parker a lot to play with.
One such addition came later in free agency, and could turn out so well that Fox Sports included his signing as one of free agency's top-10 under-the-radar acquisitions. Cornerbak Cobie Durant is coming over from the NFC West, and the former fourth-round pick lands at No. 9, even if the write-up gives a few pause moments.
Visit bettingx.bond for more information.
9. Cobie Durant, CB, Dallas Cowboys (One year, $4 million)
A versatile, playmaking cornerback who mostly fills a need as a slot defender, Durant will not only be an upgrade to the Cowboys' secondary, but he'll improve the backend of their defense on a pretty valuable contract. Dallas signed Durant to a team-friendly deal that includes $1.5 million in guaranteed money. Durant has seven career interceptions, including two returned for four touchdowns in four NFL seasons.
Durant played in a multiple, 3-4 base scheme with the Rams, and should help as the Cowboys transition to a 3-4 scheme with new defensive coordinator Christian Parker. The Cowboys also signed Arizona Cardinals safety Jalen Thompson in free agency. The addition of Thompson and Durant provides experience and position flexibility in the back end defensively.
First things first. While there is always going to be correlation between the defensive front and the secondary, the alignment of those front players don't transform a cornerback's responsibilities all that much for it to be a talking point in this regard. Dallas transitioning to a 30-front won't be the thing that makes Durant comfortable in his new digs.
Second, Durant has been a boundary corner. Since starting out as a rookie in the slot, he's trended heavier and heavier to the outside in each of his subsequent three years. Last year was the most extreme, with 896 snaps outside and only 36 in the slot.
The Cowboys have a need on the boundary as well. They are projected to having DaRon Bland and Shavon Revel starting on the outside, but their injury situations mean that they are susceptible to being beat out on the boundary by a healthier, better-performing option.
Fellow FA signing Derion Kendrick is going to compete as a backup, alongside Caelen Carson and Josh Butler.
So while there's a chance Durant is asked to play slot in Dallas, it's a bit early to relegate him to the role.
This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Cowboys CB Cobie Durant named Top-10 under-the-radar FA signing