Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys have already invested heavily at the cornerback position over the last three years. Now the franchise may look for another major investment in that position. 

According to Pro Football Network's latest 2027 NFL mock draft, Dallas is projected to select Alabama cornerback Zabien Brown with the No. 27 overall pick.

"With a combination of speed and a nose for the big play, Zabien Brown has all of the tools to become a Pro Bowler at cornerback with the right coaching," Weil wrote. "He has the speed to keep up with just about any receiver, and he also adds value as a returner."

If that holds, the Cowboys would spend on a defensive back for a second straight year after selecting Ohio State safety Caleb Downs at No. 11 overall in the 2026 draft.

PFN's writer Josh Weil described Brown as a potential value pick late in the first round, pointing to his speed and playmaking ability. 

As a freshman in 2024, he recorded three interceptions and two tackles for loss. Suggestion: Then in 2025, he has returned both of his interceptions for touchdowns, including a 99-yard score against Tennessee.

With his production and physicality, Brown has emerged as one of the favorites to be selected in the 2027 draft.

Brown's talent makes him an interesting prospect. On the other hand, the projection highlights a much larger issue for the Cowboys

Cowboys Still Searching For Answers Despite Major CB Investments

The Cowboys have invested a lot of money in the cornerback position and have little to show for it.

Dallas signed Trevon Diggs to a five-year, $97.6 million extension in 2023 after he developed himself as the NFL's top ball-hawking defender. But his injury has affected his time after the deal, which has led to him missing regular-season games. Then, he was released late in the 2025 season.

After Diggs, Dallas signed DaRon Bland to a four-year, $90 million extension ahead of the 2025 campaign. The deal came after Bland's breakout 2023 season. 

Fast forward to now, and Bleacher Report's Brad Gagnon recently named Bland the NFL's most overpaid player. He also pointed out that the former fifth-round pick has struggled to justify his contract since the extension.

“Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark were also strong candidates with output that doesn’t align with $20-plus million AAVs, but Bland is the clear-cut winner,” Gagnon wrote in March. “The 2022 fifth-round pick has one good season under his belt, but that was enough to earn him a four-year, $90 million deal. He’s missed significant time while being consistently rocked in coverage when on the field the last two seasons, all as the sixth-highest-paid corner in the sport.”

The Cowboys have invested heavily in two cornerbacks and are still looking for another long-term answer.

Now, for Dallas, if Brown remains a realistic fit a year from now, it would serve as another reminder of one of the franchise's most expensive roster-building efforts for the future.

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Written by

Evince Das

Edited by

Aadesh Dhote