The Cowboys should definitely be interested in adding a cornerback.
The Dallas Cowboys have been linked to Jalen Ramsey in recent days, whether or not the rumor actually has any legs. For what it’s worth, Dallas could use a viable option to bolster their cornerback position, but Ramsey probably isn’t the answer. With that in mind, here are five players not named Jalen Ramsey that they should target.
Asante Samuel Jr.
This has been a popular name among the fan base for some time. Asante Samuel Jr. was a hot target in many Cowboys mock drafts back in 2021, but he landed with the Chargers. He proceeded to record two interceptions and at least 11 pass breakups in each of his first three seasons, quickly becoming a star.
Last year was cut short due to a neck injury, which is why Samuel remains unsigned to this point. There have been whispers that Samuel is due for a check-up on his neck in the next month or so, and that teams are likely to wait until then to make any move on him.
Assuming he gets the all-clear, Samuel would be a no-brainer for the Cowboys. He primarily played outside in Los Angeles, which would allow DaRon Bland to move inside to the slot on nickel downs and also give Dallas a legitimate starter in the likely event that Trevon Diggs isn’t ready to go by Week 1. But it all depends on the medicals for Samuel.
Ja’Quan McMillan
The last two years have seen Broncos cornerback Ja’Quan McMillan blossom into one of the best nickel defenders in the NFL. A former undrafted free agent out of East Carolina, McMillan finished 10th in passer rating allowed from slot coverage this past year.
Under normal circumstances, McMillan wouldn’t be available. But the Broncos just used their first-round pick on Texas cornerback Jahdae Barron, who primarily played in the slot for the Longhorns and projects to have a similar role in Denver.
That makes McMillan, who’s on the last year of his rookie deal, a potential trade chip. The Cowboys have a hole in the slot with the departure of Jourdan Lewis, and they may prefer to keep DaRon Bland on the outside. Trading for McMillan could solve those issues, and likely at a reasonable price.
Jaire Alexander
The biggest name on this list, Jaire Alexander, is a two-time All Pro who’s grown into one of the top cornerbacks in the league. The final first-round pick of the Mike McCarthy Packers era, Alexander is now in a contract dispute with Green Bay. According to reports, he wants to play for a new team, but the Packers don’t seem keen on parting ways with him.
That said, someone is going to cave eventually, and the Packers can probably get a good return for such an accomplished player. That might take the Cowboys out of the running, though, and Alexander’s $24.64 million cap hit this year also makes it tough to digest.
Add in the fact that Alexander has played just one full season in the last four years – twice due to a shoulder injury and then a PCL tear this past season – and Alexander’s profile starts to look pretty similar to Ramsey. Still, Alexander has looked like the same old shutdown corner when healthy, which might just make him worth the gamble.
Stephon Gilmore
Perhaps the most realistic choice of anyone, Stephon Gilmore played for one season in Dallas, helping to mentor both Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland in 2023. The 2019 Defensive Player of the Year isn’t what he once was, but he can still play at a high level – as he just did with the Vikings – and he’s clearly still hanging around Dallas.
Gilmore might be an even better fit with the Cowboys this time around. In 2023, he played in Dan Quinn’s man-heavy scheme, which Gilmore just isn’t cut out for at 32 years old. Last year, playing in Brian Flores’ zone-heavy defense, Gilmore’s 69.3 zone coverage grade (from Pro Football Focus) ranked 35th in the league, ahead of Ramsey, McMillan, and Sauce Gardner, to name a few.
Matt Eberflus also predominantly runs zone coverages, though his scheme is radically different than that of Flores. Still, Gilmore has proven to be highly effective in zone, and he’s well-versed enough in all things football to pick up this scheme quickly. Gilmore could thrive in a second stint in Dallas.
Terell Smith
Speaking of Eberflus, he had quite the stable of young cornerbacks in Chicago, all of whom developed nicely under his watch. Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon both became studs, and Tyrique Stevenson is much better than the moment he became a household name for.
There’s also Terell Smith, a fifth-round pick out of Minnesota in the same year as Stevenson. Smith was briefly inserted into the starting lineup after Stevenson’s punishment following the Hail Mary incident. While Stevenson came back quickly, Smith was very productive: a 60% completion rate with a 63.8 passer rating allowed, although his 15 targets make for a very small sample size.
Smith showed more than enough to prove he can start, but Chicago simply had a better cornerback in Stevenson, who also needed the chance to redeem himself after such a public humiliation. Now that Eberflus is in Dallas, and Smith may be dropping even further down the depth chart following the draft, a reunion could make perfect sense for both parties.
