Instant Analysis: How draft experts viewed new Cowboys CB Devin Moore

Cornerback was one of the Cowboys' top needs heading into the 2026 draft, with many assuming the team would use one of its two first-round draft picks on the position.

Instead, they waited until Day 3.

Most of the top CB prospects were already off the board as Saturday's proceedings got underway, but not all of them. Bypassing frequent mock targets like Keionte Scott, Malik Muhammad, and Keith Abney II, the Cowboys went a little deeper and took Florida's Devin Moore.

A collegiate injury history will raise questions, especially for a Cowboys team that has seen their current CB room depleted in recent seasons and a front office who has said they were going to shy away from "redshirt players" who couldn't stay on the field.

That said, Moore had a solid 2025 for the Gators, playing in 11 of 12 games and could end up being a steal... if he stays healthy.

Here's how a few of the notable outlets scouted Moore prior to the draft.

Dane Brugler, The Athletic

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Moore’s injury history is a bright red flag, but he is a good-sized cover man with the speed and ball skills to be a scheme-versatile developmental option. He is a high-risk, high-reward prospect because of the durability questions.

Operating mostly from zone, Moore shows nice patience and foot quickness to match up with different types of route runners. He is behind the developmental curve due to his inexperience (17 career starts) and needs to mature his transition technique and anticipation — especially as a deep-third player. You’d also like to see his compete skills improve in the run game.

Lance Zierlein, NFL.com

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Moore is a long outside cornerback with good size but limited experience due to injuries. His size and length benefit him from press. He plays with adequate eye balance as a short-zone defender. Moore is a good deep-ball tracker who tilts jump balls in his favor, but he lacks make-up speed to run down coverage mistakes. He’s upright with sluggish hips in transitions and is missing the foot quickness/acceleration to stay connected with quicker route-runners. Improved anticipation and decisiveness should come with more snaps but durability concerns could hurt his draft stock.

NFL Draft Buzz

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Moore's combination of length, coverage versatility, and run support gives a defensive coordinator real options. He fits best in a scheme that leans on Cover 3 or Cover 1 and wants a long, physical corner on the boundary who can press at the line and carry vertical routes without needing consistent safety help over the top. His man and zone coverage grading both fall in strong territory, so he should not be pigeonholed as strictly a press-man player. He can sit in off-coverage, read the quarterback's eyes, and drive on intermediate throws with enough processing to hold up in zone-heavy looks.The concern is whether the body will cooperate. Three years of recurring injuries is not something you can dismiss, and the sports hernia that affected his combine performance adds another line to a medical file that already gives team doctors plenty to consider. His 40 time was pedestrian for the position, and while the tape shows adequate recovery speed, he is not the kind of corner who can get beat cleanly and run receivers down from behind. Route recognition still needs work against double moves and crossers where a half-step late at this level means a first down.When healthy, the film shows a starting outside corner. The length, ball skills, tackling and scheme flexibility are all present. But this is a projection that requires a medical green light and a coaching staff willing to invest in a player whose best season is also his only full one. For a team with depth at the position and patience to develop him, Moore is a worthwhile gamble with a real pathway to becoming a quality starter if the health holds.

Todd McShay, The Ringer

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Moore has a hard time staying healthy, but he's a talented corner with a high ceiling whose tape is better than his production suggests. He has unpolished hands, but he's smooth turning and running in press coverage. He reads receivers and makes it difficult for them to stack him. He runs well and can turn his head to locate the ball on vertical routes. He closes well while breaking on the ball and has good body control for a taller corner. he flashes a good feel for route combinations in zone looks and can match up with tight ends working out of the slot.

Moore's injury history is concerning, and the way teams view his medical file will play a big role in where he gets drafted, but he has the tape of a Day-2 pick and would be in the mix as a top-10 corner with a clean bill of health.

Moore is talented enough to compete for a starting job and develop into a team's top corner if he's able to stay healthy and regain the speed he's shown on tape.

Pro Football Network

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Devin Moore was quietly one of the best cornerbacks in college football in 2025. He logged a solid PFSN CB Impact score of 82.4, while racking up two interceptions and four pass deflections in SEC play. At around 6'3", 198 pounds, Moore has a unique combination of length and functional athleticism that underlies his coverage profile.

He's a spidery contester at the catch point, but also has smooth, fluid coverage mobility. He's quick, malleable, and disciplined in press-man, but also has a tight, efficient pedal in off-man and zone. He can orient to receivers and suddenly plant-and-drive overtop stems, and he's flashed the desired willingness to be physical.

At times, Moore's closing explosiveness appears less than elite, and he can still improve his precision playing the ball at times. Nevertheless, he's a technically-variable CB with an instinctive, fast-flowing play style, and the combined coverage mobility and length to swarm WRs as a potential impact starter.

November 9, 2025; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dee Winters (53) before the game against the Los Angeles Rams at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

Jan 5, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dee Winters (53) against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Sep 14, 2025; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints wide receiver Rashid Shaheed (22) is tackled by San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dee Winters (53) during the second half at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

September 21, 2025; Santa Clara, California, USA; Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (6) drops a pass defended by San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dee Winters (53) during the second quarter at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

Jan 5, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dee Winters (53) against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Jan 5, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dee Winters (53) against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Dec 22, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dee Winters (53) carries the ball after an interception for a touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts in the fourth quarter of the game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

September 21, 2025; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dee Winters (53) during the third quarter against the Arizona Cardinals at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

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Jan 5, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dee Winters (53) against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

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Jan 5, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dee Winters (53) against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

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Jan 5, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dee Winters (53) against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images