The Dallas Cowboys still have some important questions to answer before the regular season, and Stephen Jones revealed two positions the front office is watching closely for Christian Parker’s defense.
During an appearance on 105.3 The Fan, the Cowboys COO was asked to get more specific about the positions Dallas could still look to add to. And his answer focused on cornerback and linebacker, two areas where the Cowboys have competition and uncertainty heading into the season.
“The interesting ones are obviously where there are question marks,” Jones said. “Obviously, the corner position, Bland’s going to hold that down in terms of his side of the ledger and feel great about how he is from a health standpoint. I think it’s the best he’s felt in two years. Certainly, Caleb Downs has been better than advertised in terms of holding down that nickel spot and safety spot. The real battle’s going on over there at the corner.”
Jones then highlighted the competition for the other cornerback spot, pointing to rookie Shavon Revel and the other players battling for the job. “On the other side of the field, we’ve got a young guy, obviously, in Revel who’s doing a great job. And then another great group of players that are going to be competing out there. But to me, that’s an interesting one,” the executive added.
Linebacker was the other position Jones singled out as one worth watching closely. He mentioned DeMarvion Overshown and Dee Winters before pointing to Marist Liufau (outside linebacker), who he believes is showing that he belongs in the league, as well as Shamar James.
Jones added, “And then the linebacker spot, obviously, we’ve got Overshown there in Winters that we got from San Francisco. But I think Barham’s showing he belongs in this league and he’s going to be pushing. And James.”
Jones ended his take, adding, “So those two positions for me are ones that I’m keeping a close eye on because, you know, there’s not necessarily an incumbent, if you will. And so we’re looking forward to that.”
Actually, a few weeks ago, The Athletic’s Jon Machota reported that even though the Cowboys have added Malachi Lawrence to the position in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Cowboys’ front office remains dubious about the position and desperate for a solution. But the front is doing this? Why can’t they start with the existing players on the practice squad? Let’s try to understand it.
Cowboys’ cornerback and linebacker watch: Buying insurance, not looking for upgrades
The Cowboys keep scouting cornerback and linebacker, not because they doubt their stars. But their stars’ medical histories and the lack of proven depth behind them have left the front office in a state of perpetual unease.
At cornerback, DaRon Bland is locked in as the starter. However, his surgically repaired left foot has cost him significant time over the past two seasons, including a stress fracture that sidelined him for the first ten weeks of 2024 and another procedure this past January.
Meanwhile, the battle to start opposite him has become an urgent priority, with free agent pickup Cobie Durant currently leading second-year man Shavon Revel for the CB2 spot.
On the other hand, the linebacker situation unsettles the team equally. Overshown possesses game-changing ability, but his knee has betrayed him twice catastrophically, and leg soreness has already limited him in training camp.
Rookie Jaishawn Barham has generated genuine buzz and was closing the gap on incumbent Dee Winters. And there is a green flag.
Yet Jones has been unusually candid, publicly stating that cornerback and linebacker are the two areas where the team does not necessarily have a clear incumbent, and acknowledging that the 90-man roster will likely look different in the coming weeks.
The Cowboys are not looking to replace their stars; they are simply trying to insulate themselves against the reality that one more setback at either position could leave the defense dangerously exposed.
With the season approaching, those two position battles will be worth watching as Dallas determines which players have done enough to secure their roles and whether the front office believes it needs to make another addition.
