The Dallas Cowboys knew if they wanted to reach the heights they believed capable of, they had to make some adjustments to their roster this offseason. One position they felt needed to be upgraded was at cornerback.
The Cowboys have a star in Trevon Diggs, but beyond him, things were shaky. Injuries decimated the position last season and they were susceptible to being beaten even when Diggs was being targeted. The team is hopeful that will change in 2023 after the splashy move they made this offseason.
In March, the Cowboys acquired cornerback Stephon Gilmore from the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for a fifth-round pick. Gilmore, a former Defensive Player of the Year, five-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro, will be a huge upgrade for the defense opposite Diggs.
Dallas now has one of the best cornerback duos in the NFL. Moving the ball against them through the air will certainly be a challenge, especially when combined with the pass rush they possess.
However, Gilmore’s impact is being felt in more ways than one. Not only is he upgrading the defense, wide receiver CeeDee Lamb believes Gilmore’s approach to the game mentally is helping the wide receivers as well.
“He’s the smartest defensive back that I’ve ever lined up against. He knows certain routes off of my alignment, and it sucks. It’s really chess with him. You’re not just running a route, and that’s making me better,” Lamb said, via Jon Machota of TheAthletic.com. “On the walk-through reps, he’ll tell me what he’s thinking, just off my alignment. . . . Just picking his brain. It’s tough going against him, but I like it.”
For the Cowboys, this is a case of iron sharpening iron. Lamb, a rising star at wide receiver, is taking advantage of lining up against Gilmore in practice to improve his own game.
Despite being 32 years old and on the back end of his career, Gilmore has shown that he has plenty more to offer a team. He had a strong 2022 campaign with the Colts after a disappointing 2021 with the Carolina Panthers.
He appeared in 16 games while recording a career-high 66 total tackles with two interceptions and 11 passes defended. The Cowboys are hopeful that he can have a repeat performance of that production for them in 2023.
