The Dallas Cowboys are already staring ahead to an offseason full of tough defensive decisions. The biggest one centers on the secondary, where Trevon Diggs’ future has become a defining storyline as he has joined the Green Bay Packers after getting released.
Early 2026 NFL Draft projections suggest Dallas may be preparing for life after Diggs, with multiple analysts linking the team to a first-round cornerback as a potential long-term replacement.
The Cowboys Are Eyeing Trevon Diggs’ Replacement
The Dallas Cowboys’ defensive collapse in 2025 has pushed the franchise toward a major reset, and the secondary sits at the center of it. After finishing 7-9-1, Dallas ranked dead last in PFSN’s Defense Impact, a sobering outcome for a unit that once leaned on star power in the back end.
PFSN draft analyst Jacob Infante believes help is coming quickly. In his 2026 NFL Mock Draft, Infante noted that Dallas owning two first-round picks gives it a rare chance to double down on fixing a broken defense.
“The bad news for the Dallas Cowboys is that they had the worst defense by DEFi in the entire NFL last year. The good news, though, is that they have two first-round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, giving them the chance to double down on that weak unit,” Infante wrote.
That urgency only intensified after Trevon Diggs was released prior to Week 18. Daron Bland’s latest foot surgery clouds his availability, while Shavon Revel and Caelen Carson struggled throughout 2025. As things stand, Dallas doesn’t have a single proven long-term starter it can confidently build around.
Enter LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane, Infante’s top CB in the 2026 class. Delane allowed an absurdly low 26.7 passer rating in 2025, didn’t give up a single touchdown, and wasn’t flagged once all season. His instincts, competitiveness, and click-and-close ability consistently erased opposing receivers.
Infante added, “With an allowed passer rating of just 26.7 in 2025, Mansoor Delane was a shutdown cornerback for LSU all year. He’s my top corner in the 2026 NFL Draft because of his instincts in coverage, impressive fluidity in space, competitiveness at the catch point, and his physicality as a tackler.”
Delane’s production backs it up. He finished his LSU career with 191 tackles, 27 pass deflections, and eight interceptions, showing steady year-over-year growth. After a rocky 2024, his leap in discipline and coverage consistency in 2025 was dramatic and eye-opening.
The fit isn’t flawless. At 5-foot-11 with 30-inch arms, Delane doesn’t match Dallas’ usual preference for long, press-heavy corners. His athleticism is solid but unspectacular, and bigger receivers with vertical speed could test him outside.
Still, Delane’s versatility may offset those concerns. He’s comfortable in man or zone, thrives off the ball, and has extensive slot experience, a role where he could contribute immediately while developing further. His physical mindset and “junkyard dog” edge also help in run support.
Infante compares Delane to Chiefs All-Pro Trent McDuffie, a similar prospect who fell due to measurables but thrived on instincts and toughness. While that’s lofty company, the Cowboys don’t need perfection. They need competence, edge, and reliability. Delane checks those boxes and projects as a top-20 pick who could stabilize a crumbling secondary fast.
