It’s been their draft class which has received the most praise throughout the Cowboys 2020 offseason, but one signing in particular may end up providing unexpected return.
The Cowboys let Byron Jones walk to Miami during free agency, and opted to replace him with rookies Trevon Diggs and Reggie Robinson during the draft. They also signed a young veteran who has experience on the outside, and has been a consistent cover corner for both the Panthers and the Raiders during his career.
Daryl Worley won’t steal any All Pro votes in December, but he could be a reliable piece to the Cowboys cornerback puzzle. The 6’1″ 215 pound defensive back has showcased his versatility in the defensive backfield before, playing on the boundary, in the slot, and at safety at times.
While he’s not a blazer on the backend and can struggle in man coverage, Worley has all the physical prerequisites to be a boundary corner for the Dallas Cowboys as early as the 2020 season.
DallasCowboys.com’s Bucky Brooks recently wrote up a scouting report on Worley, praising his football IQ and awareness in zone coverage specifically.
“As a zone defender, Worley exhibits good instincts and awareness diagnosing routes. He sorts out concepts quickly and makes aggressive breaks to the ball on throws in his area.”
But where will Daryl Worley fit in this Cowboys secondary? Well, it still feels up in the air.
Chidobe Awuzie is the assumed CB1 with Byron Jones gone, but there have been rumors of Awuzie moving to safety. Fan favorite Jourdan Lewis is still there to compete, and the team re-signed starting slot cornerback Anthony Brown this offseason. And, of course, the aforementioned rookies have arrived as well.
This is an interesting defensive back group, one that doesn’t have the headline stealing star but does have some familiar names and intriguing potential.
Worley is likely competing for the boundary cornerback job opposite Awuzie, but we all know you can never have enough cornerbacks on your roster in today’s NFL. Regardless if he is designated a “starter” or not, I’d expect to see Worley on the field each and every Sunday.