The Rams importing the 2025 Chiefs’ starting cornerback duo will send Cobie Durant elsewhere. The fifth-year corner is heading to Dallas, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Todd Archer.
The Cowboys are signing Durant to a one-year deal. A primary Rams starting corner over the past two seasons, Durant has extensive experience on the perimeter and in the slot. A Dallas team that has run into regular CB injuries over the past two seasons will likely turn to Durant as a starter in 2026.
A 2022 fourth-round pick, Durant became a central component in the Rams’ low-cost cornerback plan following the 2023 Jalen Ramsey trade. Los Angeles turned to the Division I-FCS product (South Carolina State) as a 32-game starter from 2024-25; he started nine games in 2023, becoming a young option in a position group that soon included vets Darious Williams and Ahkello Witherspoon.
Deployed more as a slot option in 2023 (349 inside snaps), Durant became an outside staple for L.A. over the past two years. After 132 slot snaps in 2024, he saw only 34 (compared to 744 boundary plays, per Pro Football Focus) last season. PFF graded Durant 43rd overall among corners last season — up from 56th in 2024. Coverage stats classify Durant as consistent between 2024 and ’25, as he is charged with allowing 54.0 and 55.9 completion rates as the closest defender to go with 71.2 and 79.2 passer rating-against numbers. Those stack up reasonably well among CB regulars.
Durant intercepted three passes last season and broke up 15 between the 2024 and ’25 campaigns. He notched pick-sixes in 2022 and ’25. The 5-foot-11 cover man is on the older end for a first-time cornerback FA, turning 28 in February. That makes a one-year contract rather risky, as time is running out for the starter to secure a nice payday. Though, this one-year Dallas offer likely indicates a big market did not form here.
The Rams’ decision to keep costs low at corner may have cost them a Super Bowl berth, however, as Sam Darnold torched the L.A. secondary for 346 yards and three touchdown passes in the NFC championship game. Los Angeles has since traded a four-pick package for Trent McDuffie and signed his four-year Chiefs teammate Jaylen Watson to a three-year, $51MM deal. As the Rams transformed their CB balance sheet, their holdovers will either see their roles reduced or, in Durant’s case, change teams.
Cutting Trevon Diggs after an injury-filled stretch on his pricey extension, the Cowboys paid DaRon Bland last year but saw him suffer a season-ending injury. Foot trouble has plagued the versatile DB. Dallas drafted Shavon Revel in last year’s third round. Revel figures to be a key part of the Cowboys’ 2026 secondary, but after fielding an abysmal defense last year, the Cowboys needed reinforcements. New DC Christian Parker has identified one in Durant.