The Cowboys seem to be interested in adding a cornerback with one of their premium picks in April’s draft. They recently hosted Colton Hood for a 30 visit, per Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News, with his Tennessee teammate Jermod McCoy and Indiana’s D’Angelo Ponds on tap for next week (via ESPN’s Todd Archer).
Dallas’ pass defense was one of the worst in the league last year, due in no small part to issues and injuries at cornerback. Trevon Diggs and Caelen Carson both missed significant time, as did 2025 third-round pick Shavon Revel as he recovered from the previous year’s ACL tear. Even when the unit was healthy, they struggled to slow opponents through the air.
The unit was reinforced this offseason with the signing of former Rams Cobie Durant and Derion Kendrick, but only the former brings significant starting experience to pair with DaRon Bland. The Cowboys could certainly stand to add some young, long-term talent to their secondary.
McCoy is the highest-ranked cornerback out of the three visiting Dallas. He turned heads with a dazzling 2024 season, in which he had more interceptions (four) than touchdowns allowed (two) with a 53.6 opposing passer rating when targeted, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). A torn ACL sidelined him for all of 2025, but he recovered in time to run a 4.4-second 40-yard dash at his pro day, assuaging any concerns about his health and vaulting him into co-CB1 status with LSU’s Mansoor Delane. McCoy may not even get to the Cowboys at No. 12, but he would be an easy pick if he does.
If neither McCoy nor Delane are available when Dallas is on the clock for their first pick, they will likely target a different position and see who is available at No. 20, their second first-rounder. That could be a spot for Hood, who is currently seen as a borderline Round 1 prospect. He tested well at the Combine, but 2025 was his only full season as a starter and he was not as dominant as McCoy was the previous year. Most evaluators do not have him graded as a first-round prospect, but it only takes one team with a higher assessment to pull the trigger.
Ponds is more securely seen as a Day 2 prospect, though an elite showing at his pro day will likely keep him in the second rather than the third round. That will make it difficult for the Cowboys to land the small, speedy corner with the 92nd overall selection in the third round. If Ponds were to fall that far, it would be an easy decision for a sticky, physical corner with inside-outside versatility who just played a key role on the Hoosiers’ championship defense.
Pond’s is pound for pound a baller
He absolutely is. Because of his physical limitations, I’m probably not taking him until the 3rd, but he brings the juice, competitiveness, and physicality that I want in a number 2 corner.
Yeah, I’m not entirely sure what his role or upside is at the next level, but I’d be very surprised if he isn’t a solid contributor of some kind. He can definitely play and he’s definitely fast, which helps offset the size concerns, even if he probably has to go to a zone-heavy scheme.
Really hoping we get McCoy if Delane doesn’t fall our way