The Dallas Cowboys have one of the most electric offenses in the NFL. Dak Prescott is playing some of the best ball of his career, and he's surrounded by a diverse set of weapons dangerous enough to make any defense quake.
Unfortunately, all of that offensive prowess won't matter if the defense can't be competitive enough to keep the team in games. Especially with the absence of Micah Parsons, this has been one of the worst defenses in football. The addition of Quinnen Williams will certainly help, but there's still more work to do.
Dallas has two first-round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, thanks to the Parsons trade. They'll likely use at least one of them on defense. The draft is still months away, but LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane is already starting to look like a perfect fit for the Cowboys.
Mansoor Delane looks like Cowboys' perfect 2026 draft prospect
As shaky as the Cowboys' run defense has been this season, the cornerback group has been arguably the unit's most glaring weakness. What was a sub-par group has already been exposed by injuries, leading to more than a few embarrassing performances. As much as Jerry Jones is focused on stopping the run, the pass defense has been abysmal, allowing over 250 yards per game in the air.
After signing a massive extension at the beginning of the season, Daron Bland is seemingly locked into the lineup for years to come. But the other outside cornerback spot is still in question.
Delane could be the ideal candidate to fill that position. The Senior cornerback transferred to LSU after three impressive seasons with Virginia Tech. With his new team, he's risen up draft boards to become one of the top cornerback prospects in the upcoming class.
The young defensive back is a fluid athlete, able to change direction quickly to stick with opposing receivers. He shows a unique feel for offensive route combinations, allowing him to anticipate throws and put himself in positions to make game-changing plays. He's a bit undersized at just 190 pounds, but his body control more than makes up for his lack of physicality.
It's unclear whether Matt Eberflus will stick around for next season, but Delane's skill set would make him a fit in almost any defensive system. Opposite Bland, the young cornerback could help form one of the most complete cornerback groups in football for years to come with the Cowboys.