Locked On Cowboys Podcast: Which Round 1 Cornerback Best Fits The Dallas Cowboys?

Episode Date: February 13, 2026
Hosts: Marcus Mosher & Landon McCool

Episode Overview

In this episode, Marcus Mosher and Landon McCool break down the Dallas Cowboys’ top options at cornerback in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. They focus on three main prospects: Mansoor Delaine (LSU), Avion Terrell (Clemson), and Brandon C. Say (South Carolina). Throughout the episode, they analyze each player's fit, strengths, weaknesses, and their projected value to the Cowboys, with a particular eye toward how each could reshape the team’s secondary.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Cowboys’ Need at Cornerback

• Context: Dallas is in urgent need of both outside and slot cornerbacks to bolster their secondary. All draft options are being considered, reflecting the team's openness to various player profiles.
  • [01:23] Marcus: "We know the Cowboys have a big need at cornerback. They could use an outside cornerback. They could use a slot corner. All options are on the table."

2. Mansoor Delaine (LSU)

Background & Measurements

• Former 3-star recruit from Silver Spring, Maryland; started career at Virginia Tech before transferring to LSU
• Measured 5'11", 191 lbs, 30 1/4" arms, 74" wingspan
  • [03:15] Marcus: "5'11, 191. He actually put on a lot of weight."

Strengths

• Minimal targets and high efficiency: targeted just 34 times, allowed 13 catches
• Exceptional fluidity, quick change of direction, and off coverage skills; advanced awareness and reactive athleticism
  • [03:29] Landon: "He likes to play with his eyes, you know, in off coverage where he can react and his awareness can be leveraged."
• Physical mentality: despite size, aggressive tackler and quick to trigger downhill
• Highly technical with strong communication skills and leadership
  • [04:19] Landon: "He's always sneaking looks back at the quarterback. He's always getting a tip on what's happening. He's always pointing, he's always talking mid snap. He's a big communicator."

Weaknesses

• Undersized: can be bullied by larger receivers, struggles to compete on 50/50 balls
• Limited length becomes apparent against bigger receivers
• Ceiling may be limited by size and average athleticism

Notable Accolades

• 40 career starts, zero penalties, zero touchdowns allowed in 2025

Memorable Quotes

• Marcus: [06:25] "He's just a dog... There's an energy and emotion to him that's really good, and I think it's infectious."
• Landon: [07:42] "He is not the dude that you want to get into a fight with in an alley either. Right. Like he truly has a chip on his shoulder."
• Marcus (comparing player types): [10:28] "The high end here is like Trent McDuffie from Kansas City... also Byron Murphy... Not a top tier athlete... but I think you're getting that type of cornerback."

NFL Fit

• Best suited as an outside corner but has slot versatility
• Compared to Dallas favorites: Orlando Scandrick (scrappy, technical), Witherspoon (Seahawks) for ceiling

3. Avion Terrell (Clemson)

Background & Measurements

• 4-star recruit, 5'11", 180 lbs, 30 1/4" arms
  • [14:17] Marcus: "180 pounds during spring workouts. 30 and a quarter inch arms."

Strengths

• Quick, aggressive, and instinctive with a talent for forcing fumbles
  • [16:41] Landon: "It felt like the first five times I saw him tackle somebody, he was trying to tackle the ball specifically, and he almost got the ball out."
  • [16:41] Marcus: "Eight forced fumbles in the last two years."
• Great acceleration and "click-and-close" skills, especially in man and zone coverage
• Physical and not afraid to engage in tackling and run support; excels as a talker and competitor
  • [14:25] Landon: "He's a loud talker as opposed to Delane, who's spending a lot of time talking to his teammates. This guy's talking to the other team all the time."

Weaknesses

• Undersized, can be out-muscled and struggles at the catch point
• Susceptible to push-offs at top of routes; size disadvantage more pronounced than Delaine
• May be limited to playing nickel at the next level, though not definitively
• Potential for recurring issues against bigger NFL receivers

Notable Quotes

• Marcus: [18:30] "We just assumed that he was going to play [slot], he never did. He's had a really nice career as an outside corner... Is he going to get bullied at the line?... Yeah. But you're also going to have to be throwing into contested situations all the time."
• Landon: [19:17] "My concern more than Delane is that is this going to be something that, that like, is, is reoccurring a lot and it's going to be a problem."

NFL Fit

• Likely more effective as a nickel/slot corner, but also capable outside
• Versatile blitzer; adds value in different sub-packages
  • [20:19] Marcus: "If you have these corners that are really good at blitzing, man, that can be such an asset to have."

4. Brandon C. Say (South Carolina)

Background & Measurements

• Youngest prospect of the three; just under 6', 190 lbs, 32" arms
  • [22:46] Marcus: "Just under 6 foot, 190 pounds, 32 inch arms which checks the box of what the Cowboys want."

Strengths

• Prototypical size (for Dallas), long arms, flashes high-end physical traits
• Strong in man press, flips hips and runs smoothly, sticky in trail
• Sudden "click and close" reactions, feisty in press-man
  • [23:16] Landon: "Press-man star... flips his hips and runs hip to hip with the receiver with ease."

Weaknesses

• Limited usage: averaged only 42 snaps per game, less than 1,000 total career snaps
  • [23:16] Landon: "I didn't see very much from his tape because he only averaged around 42 snaps a game."
  • [23:36] Marcus: "He has less than a thousand career snaps in college."
• Questionable play strength and tackling for size
• Regression over the season; sometimes rotated or on the sideline during important moments
  • [25:39] Marcus: "I think part of the problem is, is he regressed as the season went on and I wonder if they were just limiting the snaps..."
• Only two interceptions; not enough tape to fully evaluate ceiling
• Concerns over agility and ability to mirror NFL receivers across the field

Notable Quotes

• Marcus: [27:09] "He's so much bigger and more imposing than the other two players... That's what frustrates me. When they're big and they don't play physical."
• Marcus: [27:43] "He's not a round one guy for me... I would be concerned."

NFL Fit

• Boundary (outside) corner with upside if developed, but very much a projection; considerable risk for a first-rounder
  • [28:05] Landon: "He's got a lot longer to way to go than I thought... I think there's a lot more uncertainty than there normally would be for a starting SEC corner who's considered to be a first of first round talent."

Segment Timestamps

• [01:23]: Introduction & Cowboys’ cornerback need
• [02:17] – [11:20]: Mansoor Delaine (LSU) – full scouting and analysis
• [13:18] – [21:08]: Avion Terrell (Clemson) – full scouting and analysis
• [22:46] – [29:12]: Brandon C. Say (South Carolina) – full scouting and analysis

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• On Delaine’s energy:
  • Marcus: [06:25] "He's just a dog... There's an energy and emotion to him that's really good, and I think it's infectious."
• On Terrell’s play style:
  • Landon: [16:44] "He's a very willing participant in the run defense... But there are just moments where he just isn't big enough. And those moments are usually pretty key moments."
• On Say’s snap count and question marks:
  • Landon: [23:39] "I didn't see enough of him to like feel super good that you know he's going to come in and make it. I think there's a lot more uncertainty than there normally would be for a starting SEC corner..."

Final Thoughts

• Mansoor Delaine is the player both hosts appear most enthusiastic about, describing him as an infectious, competitive, and high-upside defensive back, despite size concerns.
• Avion Terrell is praised for his versatility, competitive drive, and playmaking, but flagged for potential size limitations at the next level—likely a strong nickel candidate.
• Brandon C. Say represents the prototypical Dallas corner in terms of size and length, but his lack of playing time and inconsistency make him a riskier proposition, especially early in his career.
• If the Cowboys draft Delane at pick 12, both Marcus and Landon would be “thrilled.” Terrell is valued in the first round, but not a lock for pick 12. Say is seen as more of a project with lots of developmental question marks.

For Listeners:

This episode gives a detailed, scouting-based look at the Cowboys' top first-round CB options, blending high-level NFL comparisons with specific on-field insights. Whether you want to know which corner fits best, how the Cowboys' draft philosophy shapes their search, or just crave next-level analysis, this episode delivers.