Jerry Jones’ costly CB problem could push Cowboys back to 1st round image
Jerry Jones and the Cowboys have spent the last three years throwing major money at cornerback, and they still may not be any closer to solving the position. That is why an early 2027 mock draft projection feels less like a random offseason exercise and more like a warning about how badly Dallas has managed one of the most expensive spots on its roster.
Pro Football Network’s latest mock draft has the Cowboys taking Alabama cornerback Zabien Brown at No. 27 overall in 2027, which would mean Dallas used a first-round pick on a defensive back in consecutive years after landing Ohio State safety Caleb Downs in 2026.
Brown looks like the kind of prospect who would make sense for any team. He has SEC production, NFL-ready instincts and the sort of playmaking profile that usually gets defensive backs on the field quickly.
But the bigger takeaway is not just that Brown could help. It is possible that the Cowboys may already need another premium answer at corner despite all the money Jones has already committed there.
Dallas gave Trevon Diggs a five-year, $97.6 million extension before the 2023 season and never got another stretch of elite play after the deal. Injuries wrecked his availability, and he was eventually released late in the 2025 season after missing 31 regular-season games over a three-year span.
The Cowboys then doubled down by handing DaRon Bland a four-year, $90 million extension before the 2025 season, betting that one huge breakout year was enough to make him a long-term cornerstone.
Instead, Bland has already become one of the more criticized contracts on the roster, with Bleacher Report’s Brad Gagnon recently calling him the NFL’s most overpaid player after a stretch of injuries and shaky coverage play.
That is the real Jones problem here. Dallas did not just miss on one contract. The Cowboys poured massive resources into cornerback and still may need to spend another first-round pick to clean up the same position all over again.
If Brown is already a logical fit for Dallas, it says everything about where this roster still stands. The Cowboys’ next cornerback answer may not just be about adding talent. It may be about fixing another expensive mistake Jones already made.
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