The Dallas Cowboys are hopeful Trevon Diggs can return early this season, along with rookie Shavon Revel Jr., who is coming back from a torn ACL himself. If not, the Cowboys will rely on DaRon Bland and will have a gaping hole without the services of 2024 starters Diggs and Jourdan Lewis (signed with Jacksonville) unavailable.

We’ve seen cornerbacks come off the market in recent weeks. Jaire Alexander signed a 1-year, $6 million deal with the Baltimore Ravens, while the Houston Texans signed Damon Arnette, who makes his return to the NFL after 4 years away from the NFL.

Alexander would have been excellent for that price this year, while Arnette would have been a gamble. We’ve seen Dallas take swings at players like that, but now the corner market is slowly dwindling while the Cowboys sit there with a need.

Thankfully, if the Cowboys opted to, there are two corners that could help: Stephon Gilmore and Asante Samuel Jr.

We mentioned Gilmore potentially reuniting with the Cowboys when he visited around draft time. Gilmore’s experience in Dallas working alongside Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland makes this possibility intriguing. Gilmore is a former Defensive Player of the Year, enjoyed his time in Dallas, and could be the best veteran to mentor some of the younger pieces in the Dallas secondary.

Gilmore would likely be a cheaper, one-year rental at his age. We can’t imagine Gilmore getting a lengthier extension or playing much longer at a high level, but he hasn’t slowed down yet. We just know that if Gilmore is signed for the 2025 season, the team will be facing a similar situation next offseason when it comes to filling a need at cornerback, be that with a Bland extension or the emergence of one of the younger players.

When we wrote that piece on Gilmore around the draft, he was the biggest name still available. Now, I’m genuinely surprised Asante Samuel Jr. hasn’t been picked up by an NFL team yet.

Dallas should actively insert their name into the hat.

If anyone recognizes that name, his father played for the New England Patriots, Philadelphia Eagles, and Atlanta Falcons, totalling 51 interceptions in his 11-year career. Samuel Jr. is no slouch himself, having 6 interceptions in his first 3 seasons with the Chargers. His father? Samuel Sr. had 6 interceptions in his first 3 seasons in the NFL.

Unfortunately, Samuel Jr.’s fourth season with the Chargers was cut short due to a neck injury. He was placed on injured reserve after Week 4 and would miss a huge chunk of the 2024 season.

Samuel Jr. is a high-quality cornerback who has a knack for pass breakups with 37 in his career. Outside of the unfortunate injury last season, he has been reliable and consistent on the field.

When it comes to this year, Samuel Jr. should be ready to go, and the Cowboys should kick the tires. Samuel has experience playing under the passing game coordinator for the Packers, Derrick Ansley. And of course, Samuel’s father has ties to the Eagles, and I’m sure Philadelphia wouldn’t mind adding Samuel to the young cornerback duo of Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell. But as a Cowboys fan, I’d rather play with Asante Samuel Jr. for 17 games than play against him for two.

If the Cowboys don’t opt to sign Gilmore, Samuel, or another corner, they do have opportunities for people lower on the depth chart to rise up the ranks. The team is impressed by former Bills corner Kaiir Elam in minicamp, whom they acquired via trade. The team is very high on him during his minicamp performance, and Elam is most likely the next man up.

Israel Mukuamu is transitioning from safety to corner, which might be a more natural fit for his skill set, especially if he is willing to hold down the fort at nickel. Bland wasn’t too excited about playing inside, so Mukuamu’s willingness to be plugged in where most needed is an attractive character trait.

The rest of the depth chart is a bunch of question marks, and if these players were called on tomorrow to start a full game, Dallas would be in trouble. Caelen Carson will be in his second year after struggling and being benched in his rookie campaign. Josh Butler showed flashes in games last year, but is also coming back from injury. The Cowboys have former 1st-round pick Andrew Booth, who was acquired in a trade with Minnesota for Nahshon Wright last year, but Booth will be fighting for a spot on the 53-man roster and has significantly underperformed for a former top draft pick.

Respectfully to the other corners on the roster, Gilmore or Samuel Jr. would instantly elevate this secondary to allow Diggs enough time to get fully healthy. This might be the best move short-term for the organization come Week 1. Until then, it’s up to the coaching staff to coach who is on the team before the Jones family signs any new checks.