After agreeing to terms with Cobie Durant, the Cowboys are set to import another recent Rams cornerback. Derion Kendrick is joining the Cowboys on a one-year deal, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets.
Splitting his time between Seattle and Los Angeles in 2025, Kendrick has 18 career starts and teamed with Durant across three seasons with the Rams. Durant agreed to a one-year, $4MM Cowboys deal; having not started a game since 2023, Kendrick is likely to come in south of that figure. This duo joins a retooling Cowboys defense under new leader Christian Parker.
Technically Super Bowl ring-eligible after playing 10 Seahawks games in 2025, Kendrick landed on waivers three times last year. The Rams cut him in June (before re-signing him soon after) and then moved on again upon trimming their roster to 53 players in August, leading to a Seahawks claim. Seattle, however, moved on in November. A Rams team struggling with corner health and consistency brought Kendrick back via a claim, but with L.A. adding Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson this month, Kendrick will join Durant in relocating.
A former sixth-round pick who played at Clemson and Georgia, Kendrick is heading into an age-26 season. He used the 2025 campaign to reestablish health following a missed 2024. The 6-foot cover man suffered an ACL tear in July 2024.
Prior to that, the Rams used Kendrick as a regular starter over his first two seasons. After playing 50% of L.A.’s defensive snaps as a rookie, Kendrick logged a 76% snap share (858 plays) in 2023. The Rams demoted Kendrick late that season, however, and Pro Football Focus placed him 83rd out of 127 qualified CB options that year. Kendrick played 18% of Seattle’s defensive snaps last season (123 plays) but will be looking to secure more playing time in Dallas.
The Cowboys waived the injury-prone Trevon Diggs late last season and have DaRon Bland coming off a season-ending malady. As Bland deals with another major foot issue, the Cowboys will be hoping 2025 third-round pick Shavon Revel — who missed much of his rookie year due to ACL rehab — can play a regular role. Durant will be competing for a starting job, likely being favored to play alongside Bland and Revel, while Kendrick profiles as a depth option. The Cowboys are taking a few swings at corner, having also signed ex-Packers regular Corey Ballentine this week.
In other Cowboys contract news, safety P.J. Locke‘s deal matches Kendrick’s. It’s a one-year, $4MM pact that can max out at $5MM, ESPN.com’s Todd Archer tweets. Of that total, $3.5MM is guaranteed at signing, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson adds. Defensive end Sam Williams‘ second Dallas deal is worth $2.5MM in base value, per Wilson. Of that total, $2MM is fully guaranteed. D-lineman Otito Ogbonnia‘s one-year contract is worth $2.5MM, Archer notes. Of that amount, only $500K is guaranteed at signing.