By Cowboys Insider | PML Coverage
Drafting Smart, Drafting for Identity
For the second straight day, Coach Cody Hirsch and the Dallas Cowboys’ front office stayed true to their blueprint — build the kind of defense that wins in January.
After reinforcing the trenches in Round One with RT Kaydn Proctor and RE Matayo Uiagalelei, the Cowboys continued to layer the foundation on Day Two. With their two second-round selections, Dallas added a pair of defensive chess pieces that fit perfectly into the team’s evolving identity: SS Jeremiah Cooper at pick 8 and DT Dontay Corleoneat pick 27.
Two players. Two different skill sets. One unified goal — physical dominance and defensive balance.
“You can feel what we’re building,” Hirsch said post-Day 2. “It’s not about names — it’s about roles, energy, and attitude. Jeremiah and Dontay bring all three.”
Pick 8 — SS Jeremiah Cooper: The Instinctive Enforcer
The Cowboys’ first selection on Day Two brought in one of college football’s most instinctive safeties: Jeremiah Cooper, the ball-hawking, heat-seeking strong safety from Iowa State.
At 6’0”, 205 pounds, Cooper is a tone-setter — the kind of defensive back who plays downhill with controlled aggression but has the instincts to range deep in coverage. He steps into a Dallas secondary already bolstered by veteran leadership and physical corner play, and he’s expected to compete for starting snaps immediately.
Why He Fits Dallas
The Cowboys needed more versatility at safety following the offseason retooling of the secondary. With Jaquan Briskeras the veteran leader and Marquis Bell offering rotational depth, Cooper gives Dallas the perfect hybrid safety for their system — capable of shadowing tight ends, patrolling the flats, and blitzing from disguise looks.
Defensive coordinator Al Harris has long valued safeties who can do everything, and Cooper fits that bill.
“He’s an eraser,” Harris said. “You can play him high, low, or in the box — he understands spacing and timing at a pro level.”
Scouting Snapshot
- Strengths: Elite football IQ, quick trigger downhill, strong tackler in space, high motor
- Weaknesses: Still refining man technique vs slot receivers
- NFL Comparison: Chauncey Gardner-Johnson — aggressive, emotional, and versatile
Projected Role
Cooper is expected to rotate early with Brisker, working in three-safety packages and sub-defense alignments. His range and closing burst allow Dallas to disguise coverages and keep quarterbacks guessing — a critical piece in Harris’s hybrid coverage system.
Pick 27 — DT Dontay Corleone: The Run Wall
Later in the second round, Dallas doubled down on defense by selecting Dontay Corleone, the dominant defensive tackle from Cincinnati.
Nicknamed “The Godfather,” Corleone has been a menace in the middle since his first collegiate start — a 6’2”, 320-pound gap-eating powerhouse who demands double teams and opens lanes for linebackers.
He’s not flashy, but his presence changes everything around him. And in Dallas, that’s exactly what they needed.
“We’ve got pass rushers,” Hirsch said. “Now we’ve got an anchor.”
Why He Fits Dallas
With Osa Odighizuwa providing interior quickness and Matayo Uiagalelei rotating on the edge, Dallas needed a true run-stopper who could eat space and free up Damone Clark and Shemar James to roam freely. Corleone gives them that — a nose tackle built to plug A-gaps and collapse pockets.
He’ll rotate early with Odighizuwa and Marshawn Kneeland in sub fronts, keeping the defense fresh and violent throughout four quarters.
“You can’t move him,” Odighizuwa said with a grin. “He’s got that natural anchor. That’s a rare trait.”
Scouting Snapshot
- Strengths: Exceptional leverage, strong base, elite run fits, consistent motor
- Weaknesses: Limited lateral burst; not a third-down rusher yet
- NFL Comparison: Vita Vea — a wide-bodied force who destroys blocking schemes
Projected Role
Corleone enters as the early-down rotational DT alongside Osa, commanding interior attention and clogging gaps to let linebackers play downhill. Expect him to play a major role in short-yardage and goal-line packages — the moments that define playoff defenses.
Coach Hirsch’s Blueprint: Building Leaders, Not Just Starters
When asked about his back-to-back defensive picks, Coach Hirsch emphasized something deeper than talent: leadership and culture.
“We don’t draft for highlight reels. We draft for trust,” Hirsch said. “Jeremiah and Dontay bring accountability. They play smart, violent football — exactly what the star represents.”
Both players mirror the core of this Dallas defense — smart, physical, and relentless. Cooper joins a secondary led by Martin Emerson Jr., Daron Bland, and Shavon Revel Jr., forming a young, aggressive group built on communication and trust. Corleone joins a defensive line rotation that now includes Ezeiruaku, Kneeland, Odighizuwa, and Uiagalelei, giving Dallas depth at every level.
Projected Defensive Depth Chart (Front Seven + Secondary)
| Position | Starter | Depth |
|---|---|---|
| LE | Donovan Ezeiruaku | Marshawn Kneeland |
| DT | Osa Odighizuwa | Dontay Corleone |
| DT | Mazi Smith | Rotational Hybrid |
| RE | Marshawn Kneeland / Uiagalelei | Depth Rotation |
| WLB | DeMarvion Overshown | Marist Liufau |
| MLB | Damone Clark (C) | DeMarvion Overshown |
| SLB | Marist Liufau | Depth |
| CB1 | Martin Emerson Jr. | Trikweze Brides |
| CB2 | Daron Bland | Shavon Revel Jr. |
| FS | Marquis Bell | Depth |
| SS | Jaquan Brisker / Jeremiah Cooper | Depth |
The Verdict: Reinforcing the Core
After two days of drafting, the Cowboys’ message is clear: they’re building a defense that punishes.
Kaydn Proctor and Matayo Uiagalelei redefined the trenches in Round One.
Jeremiah Cooper and Dontay Corleone solidified the spine in Round Two.
Every pick fits a vision — a defense that’s fast, violent, and smart.
“We’ve been physical on offense,” Hirsch said. “Now our defense matches that energy. Every position group just got stronger.”
Final Word
With Jeremiah Cooper patrolling the secondary and Dontay Corleone controlling the interior, the 2026 Cowboys defense looks built to take the next step — from opportunistic to dominant.
These aren’t luxury picks. They’re identity picks.
And under Coach Hirsch, identity is everything.
