Life comes at you fast. One moment, you're the class of the NFC East, with a franchise QB, a group of Pro Bowl-caliber playmakers, and a secondary full of young, up-and-coming stars. Things look great for the next half-decade or more; Netflix does a documentary on your team's owner.
Then, in an instant, it all disappears. Jayden Daniels shows up for one (1) single season and everything falls apart. The Eagles "win" the "Super Bowl." And then, just to add insult to injury, the worst part arrives: Pro Football Focus gives you an unfavorable offseason ranking. Nothing stings quite like a disapproving offseason rankings list.
That's exactly where the Cowboys have found themselves heading into 2025: playing against two of the best teams in football four times a year with the help of ... the 2nd-worst secondary in football. PFF didn't mince words when describing the dramatic fall of a secondary that looked like one of the NFL's best not too long ago.
Pro Football Focus doesn't feel great about the Cowboys' secondary in 2025
"The Cowboys’ secondary looked like a strength just two years ago, but injuries, coaching changes and key departures have depleted the unit’s depth," PFF's John Kosko wrote. "Cornerback DaRon Bland followed his record-setting 2023 season with a difficult 2024 campaign after returning from injury. Trevon Diggs has been unable to replicate his 11-interception season from 2021, totaling just eight picks since while missing significant time due to injuries. While there is still talent in this group, the prime years of these players may already be behind them unless an infusion of youth provides a spark."
'The prime years of these players may already be behind them,' is a very dramatic way to describe two corners who are, respectively, 25 and 26 years old. Bland even finished as PFF's 33rd-best corner last year, so if that's a 'difficult campaign,' then I think the Cowboys are probably going to be fine.
Sure, cornerback is a big question right now given the Diggs injury, but what about safety? Malik Hooker and Donovan Wilson are getting up there in age, but they are a serviceable tandem and Dallas has a couple of up-and-coming players who could succeed them as soon as next year.
Plus, everyone knows the vibes under Brian Schottenheimer are totally different and way better now, based solely on that one video of him drinking a cocktail on a golf course. Interesting that PFF conveniently forgot to mention that part.
