The Dallas Cowboys most likely would have been satisfied with their draft haul from last week if they’d done nothing else other than land star safety Caleb Downs with their first pick. But, of course, there were more picks, and perhaps none is more intriguing than the cornerback they brought in from Florida, 6-foot-3 Devin Moore, who drew some attention on his call with Jerry Jones when he proclaimed himself, “the best cornerback in the draft.”
Moore certainly has ability and, having spent four years with the Gators in the SEC, he also has faced top-level competition. But he also has a worrisome injury history, which is why he was on the board for the Cowboys in the fourth round.
During his first three college seasons, Moore played only 19 games. As a freshman, he eight games with a left shoulder injury, and missed five games as a sophomore with a back injury and a concussion. He had a shoulder injury in his junior year, but last season, finally put together a mostly healthy season, with 11 games played.
Devin Moore, Starting QB?
The nature of Moore’s injuries are such that maybe an NFL team should not be all that worried about them–he has not had an Achilles injury or repeated knee injuries. Though the Cowboys were reluctant this year to use picks on medical question marks, they were willing to gamble on Moore. And the payoff could be big.
As Kevin Turner of the “One-Star Podcast” noted, a healthy Moore could be a starter for Dallas by his second year in the NFL.
Said Turner: “I think there’s a chance Devin Moore is a starting cornerback for you in 2027. Like, that is—it’s not like he was not involved. Some of these guys that play a couple years, one big injury, he was playing, got hurt. Playing in the system, got hurt. Playing, got hurt. Then finally, last year, played the full year. I don’t know, I think there is a chance he sticks around. I love this pick. It’s one of the best picks.”
Cowboys Could Use a Big Corner
Cowboys Vice President of Player Personnel Will McClay appeared on the DLLS Cowboys podcast this week to talk about the team’s draft picks, and Moore was a topic of discussion. At 6-foot-3, he was the second-tallest corner in the draft, playing a position where players are usually much shorter.
Said McClay: “When you’re 6-foot-3 and you can drop your weight and you can change direction and you can play press—a lot of tall guys, because of body builds, change of direction is a little bit different. But when you find someone of his length and athletic ability, to be able to change direction, play press, play off and play zone, to be able to see it and process it and understand route combinations and what’s coming at you, and then be 6-3 … you think there is some positive things on what we are trying to do defensively.”
Cowboys Checked Devin Moore Medicals Closely
McClay, too, was asked about the Cowboys’ medical concerns when it comes to Devin Moore, and acknowledged they were a factor. But by the fourth round, the potential talent outweighed the risk of picking him.
“There are so many things that go into the value of the player at the time, then you take everything else into account,” McClay said. “The injury history is something that we were aware of. Our trainers and doctors—believe me, the last thing we want to do is invest in someone that’s not going to make it and there is concern medically. So, the doctors handle that.
“One thing that we do, I ask the scouts to go out and grade the football players and gather the football information. Anything medical, psychological, anything like that we’re gonna find out, we’re gonna give it to the experts.”
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