The Dallas Cowboys entered the 2025 NFL season with high hopes for a defense revitalized through the draft, but one of their projected starters now enters the 2026 campaign under intense scrutiny.
After a chaotic and underwhelming defensive performance last year, the Cowboys’ plans to sustain progress hinge on player development and a fresh coaching vision – particularly for a cornerback whose rookie season left much to be desired.
In April 2025, Dallas used its first three selections with optimism and purpose. First, the Cowboys drafted Alabama guard Tyler Booker, a highly regarded offensive lineman expected to start immediately and shore up a struggling front line.
On Day 2, they selected Boston College edge rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku,. In the third round, the Cowboys added cornerback Shavon Revel Jr., a player with enticing size, speed, and athletic traits out of East Carolina who was thought to have the potential to grow into a difference-maker in the secondary.
Revel‘s combination of physical tools and late-round value had many analysts predicting he could be a steal for the Cowboys.
However, Revel‘s first NFL season was far from the breakout many envisioned. Coming off a torn ACL suffered in his final collegiate year, he was thrust into a starter’s role and participated in a limited seven games. Over that span, he recorded 35 tackles and three pass defenses, showing flashes of potential but consistently struggling in coverage.
Pro Football Focus ultimately gave him a grade of 35.2, marking him as the lowest-graded cornerback among all qualifiers – a concerning metric considering he missed a significant portion of the season due to injury.
His coverage grade was even lower at 34.6, and opposing receivers completed a high percentage of passes against him, allowing 21 receptions that ranked near the bottom of the league.
Troubled defense and new leadership
Dallas’ defensive woes extended far beyond Revel. The unit was torched throughout much of the 2025 season, leading to the decision to fire defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus after just one year. In his place, the Cowboys hired Christian Parker, a young defensive mind with a reputation for developing secondary talent and teaching complex coverage concepts.
Parker’s scheme flexibility and ability to teach nuanced defensive techniques could provide the perfect environment for young players like Revel to grow, especially after missing critical developmental time recovering from injury.
While it’s easy to criticize Revel for his rookie struggles, context is important. The Cowboys’ entire defense underperformed, and many young players were asked to shoulder responsibilities too early.
How Revel adapts in his second season, with a full offseason, improved health, and a new defensive scheme, may ultimately determine both his career trajectory and the success of Dallas’ defensive rebuild.
His development could be a bellwether for whether the Cowboys can transform a previously struggling unit into a competitive force in 2026.