Sturm: This Defense Needs Shavon Revel to Be The Guy

[dpf1123]

This Defense Needs Shavon Revel to Be The Guy​

He doesn't lack for belief: “I am going to be, someday, the best cornerback in the league.”​

Bob Sturm
Jul 15, 2026




This week’s Cowboys summer project is one where we will have to keep an open mind on the unknown. There are things that we cannot know by looking at the past and the most significant one in player evaluation is the future. We will find some things in this report that are not ideal by quite a margin. That is life in professional sports. We have to guess and speculate and exercise some patience.

Indeed, it is the case of Shavon Revel. The Cowboys 3rd round pick in 2025. He started his career injured which is the temptation of the draft game. If we take a player who is not in mint condition, we can often add some real value once he heals as his draft position is considerably lower than could be expected.

But, as Tom Petty told us, the waiting is the hardest part. We did not see Revel in the spring or summer workouts or at training camp with the team. Then we saw him gradually on the side until he could finally join the team in Las Vegas in Week 11. What we saw when he did return was a player who was trying to enter the fray of an NFL season without any real ramp-up experience or confidence level. It went very poorly. PFF said he was the 121st best cornerback in a league that only had 121 corners who played enough snaps to be graded in 2025.



Revel was dead-last as a graded corner in 2025. That is not the ideal way to start an NFL career and already people are assuming that is who he is and what he will be. But we know that doesn’t have to be true at all. The questions now will become where he goes from here as a piece moving forward. 2025 is over and the health has returned. Maybe, he is that guy that I valued as a FIRST ROUND GRADE when we did his East Carolina tape 18 months ago.

Dallas badly needs him to be a top-level corner and we would prefer that starts this year at training camp. It sure wasn’t part of his 2025, but that is done and gone. I think he is the perfect guy to study now because his upside suggests that by the camp of 2026, he might be ready to not only play but to start at a very high level. His ceiling is that of this team’s best corner. I’m serious.

So, let’s grab his film and his report and take a very close look at Shavon Revel.

The date on my draft profile of Shavon Revel was March 18, 2025.

My review of his positive traits seems incredibly kind. I loved this player.

He honestly has almost everything I look for in a NFL corner. He has great size and speed as well as length. Also, and maybe more importantly, he is a football player who wants to find contact and aggressiveness to bring a disposition that we sometimes don’t see in corners. He wants to get after you and tackle you with force. He has recovery speed and instincts for the ball.

Admittedly, the concerns had to be addressed.

The issues are there. He cannot workout with an ACL recovery and also suffered a few high school injuries that tell you his body has taken some damage over time. It doesn’t seem to affect his tape, but he certainly has been through some things and his play-style says there will be a toll. Also, at East Carolina, we are sure he hasn’t seen the WR1’s of Sundays on a regular basis, so we have to project a bit.

But, I kept coming back to the idea that this is a top corner in this 2025 draft and there was a price where I would gladly take him and wait for his healthy knee to return to add him to my depth chart.

I really like Revel and I love the adversity he has overcome to get here today, but I also confess that it would be important for the team medical staff to have a good look at his body to make sure he is 100% for training camp. But, for a team that wants some play-making in the secondary and to play physical in the zones, I would value him as a FIRST ROUND corner if all the medical stuff turns out.

---

Well, it definitely took longer than we thought because the “make sure he is 100% for training camp” was speaking of 2025 and not 2026.

Within a week of starting training camp, the side-sessions were shut down. Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star Telegram detailed:

After dealing with some discomfort in rehab sessions at training camp, Dallas Cowboys rookie cornerback Shavon Revel Jr. is no longer expected to return from his torn ACL in time for the season opener, a team source tells Star-Telegram. Revel’s father also told 105.3 The Fan that his son’s recovery is expected to last another 6-8 weeks.

That was the moment of concern and from that point on, we kept hearing the same things - vague timelines and the objective of making sure he was 100% before he stepped on the field.

At the same time, the Cowboys secondary was not flourishing.

The season started with DaRon Bland and Kaiir Elam starting with Trevon Diggs close by. Two of those players would be released before the season ended as Elam was gone on November 22nd and Diggs on December 30th. DaRon Bland’s foot made his year a mess, too.

Essentially, it was a year of way too much Reddy Steward and Trikweze Bridges and not enough of the more talented players that this team invested in. Looking at the snap chart below, I suppose it should surprise nobody that this defense was brutally bad.



As we look to 2026, getting your rankings above dead last vs the pass should be the objective. But, for now, they are 32nd in the NFL per game and 32nd in the NFL per play. Given that you cannot sink lower than 32nd, that is going to be the issue.



It was a massive mess, so the team was building on reinforcements coming to save the defense. There are numerous players who could be listed in that group, but in particular, the youth was going to be about the returns of DeMarvion Overshown and Shavon Revel along with the veteran hope of Quinnen Williams. If these players could inject some quality, maybe they could end 2025 with some belief on what is ahead.

Revel returned in 2025 with a knee brace. He played in seven games total as a rookie, gradually increasing snaps while wearing a protective knee-brace that affected his movement and occasionally required sideline adjustments.

I was at his debut in Las Vegas and offered a positive review on his first game.



But, by Christmas, I was considerably grumpier. He was not the same guy and he was never at 100%.



Now, we are at the point of this exercise where we should look at some film and show you the 2025 stuff. By the end, I will offer optimism, but the tape will be a chore. Strap in and see them all here.

Revel - All Targeted Plays - 2025​

As early as the 2nd snap against the Raiders, you can tell he isn’t moving right. They waited until he was 100% and he still wasn’t 100%. Three targets against the Eagles AJ Brown and you can see the tools. He just can’t click and close. The Chiefs want to challenge his short-area change of direction, but I am still looking at him and admiring the size and length. Detroit really got after him and it was a rough night altogether. Dallas had no corners so Revel is now checking Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams also they are throwing all sorts of confusion his way. At 2:00, he falls and there is a free touchdown missed before halftime. Then they start attacking him more in the 2nd half with a confusion touchdown. Much better tape vs the Vikings where he is playing physical and fast, but Jalen Nailor gets him on the stutter and go. At 3:30 or so, the Chargers see him lined up against Quinten Johnson and go right at him for a touchdown. He just looks like he has lost faith in his press and run ability here. By Christmas Day, the Commanders are targeting him with tunnel screens and challenging his physical play. His tackling has declined and he now looks like a player who probably isn’t ready.

Tough to watch that whole reel and feel great about the kid. So those were the targets for the year in which the NFL passed to a 119.7 passer rating at him. Again, not great.

But, there is more to corner than just coverage plays. How is he as a complete player? Here is the three game cut-up I would use to evaluate that targets the three games he played in December with the most action. Each of these tapes are under 2 minutes and can help you get a better feel for his overall work.

Week 14 at Detroit​

The Detroit tape will surely be the night he will most want to forget. They went after him and targeted his area constantly. They knew his head was spinning and there is no mercy in this league. Just like Trevon Diggs, if they think a corner is soft, they will make him tackle. This is very poor, if we are to be honest.

Week 16 vs Los Angeles Chargers​

This tape is more encouraging, but still you can get the feel that he has been through it a bit. I wonder how we would feel about Revel right now if he simply did not play in 2025 at all and they wanted to be conservative to “get him right.” Obviously, this is speculation, but did they rush him back because Diggs and Elam were such a disaster and Bland was never right?

Finally, Christmas Day.

Week 17 at Washington​

So many stop routes and making him fire forward. The Deebo Samuel play is where he might have looked his worst, but McLaurin is just constantly working him underneath. The run support on the TD run was not close to good enough at all and Donovan Wilson is covering for him quite a bit as the safeties don’t trust him.

There is no way to say it - this tape is rough. If PFF is calling him the worst corner in the league from this tape, I suppose we don’t have a strong argument to pushback.

The Revel look ahead to 2026​

I don’t want to sit here and just tell you everything is great with this prospect, because that would seem silly after Year 1. Yes, I thought that his college tape said he was a 1st Round grade, but the ACL makes you wonder if that guy is going to return. There is risk. A guy loses confidence in his body and before long, he isn’t the same guy. He is definitely playing “not to get beat” rather than the aggressive attack player he was before his injury.

So, this off-season he had to get right. Health was the priority. He got to OTA’s without a sleeve on his knee or a brace. Things are looking much better as this video from LawSportsNation definitely demonstrates.

Workout videos online are definitely not worth too much, but they are also not nothing. He was not moving like this on that film above and we definitely are aware that the 2nd year after an ACL is when you actually get back to normal.

In other words, yes, like everyone else, when I saw this video, I had some optimism growth for Revel, Year 2.

Last month, he talked with Nick Harris again and put some real quotes out there:

“I am going to be, someday, the best cornerback in the league,” he told Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. “That’s just how I look at it, and I have the confidence to say it. At the end of the day, I got to work.”

Revel says that even when he was starting down the stretch, he wasn’t fully recovered from that college knee injury.

“I did not feel like myself,” Revel said. “I just had that heart and grit to go out there. If I can still run, I’m going to go play. It’s all about what you can put in for the team. . . . One thing my dad taught me, if you go out there and play, go out there and play. That’s my opportunity to showcase something.”

Here is what Brian Schottenheimer said on June 9th.

For Von, it’s really been just kind of diving in with, with CP and Derrick Ansley and the secondary guys and learning the techniques and the biggest thing we’re doing with Von right now is trying to, you know, get him to where he’s trusting his speed, his ability to make up, his ability to use his hands, and, he can’t just be a press corner.

He’s very good at press, but we’re also gonna ask him to do some other things in the system and something that he really probably hasn’t done before. So, a lot of time on the grass and in the meeting rooms working on some of those skill sets and then. You know, once we get going in pads, we want to see Von turn it loose.

The right things are being said and the tape looks good. It is a long road from that 2025 tape to being a guy in 2026 who becomes your top corner, so maybe we need to slow our role on that front. But, the idea of growing in to his spot in this league needs to happen with some urgency.

The fans may be cynical coming off Kelvin Joseph and Nahshon Wright, but with Shavon Revel and Devin Moore along with DaRon Bland and Cobie Durant, there may not be a positional group that could go from sub-par to excellent in a very short time.



But, much of it depends on Revel and will commence in California in no time at all.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

I don't know that we need him to be "the guy" but we need him to be a good player. The CB situation just looks so much better if Revel is a good starting corner. I don't need elite, I don't need a stud, just go out there and do a solid job. Basically don't be a liability.

 

[ravidubey]

I don't know that we need him to be "the guy" but we need him to be a good player. The CB situation just looks so much better if Revel is a good starting corner. I don't need elite, I don't need a stud, just go out there and do a solid job. Basically don't be a liability.

We can and should hope for more than a non-liability from a 3rd round investment.

My worry, beyond his physical recovery, is how permanently affected his confidence is from the constant targeting and utter failure vs live ammo in 2025. That can have a PTSD effect all on its own.

It’s why I don’t expect anything from him in 2026 and am more excited about Moore, TBH. If Revel becomes a player it will be an unexpected bonus from my perspective.

 

[Genghis Khan]

We can and should hope for more than a non-liability from a 3rd round investment.

While true, I think the point is whether the team NEEDS Revel to be The Guy or not.

I don't think they need that, I think him being solid is enough for the defense to be solid. Heck, if he's trash I think they could get by with Bland, Carson, and Moore assuming the other components of the defense and the scheme (especially at safety) come together.

Him being a stud would be very nice but I don't think it's needed for the defense to work, as Sturm is implying here.

 

[Simpleton]

While true, I think the point is whether the team NEEDS Revel to be The Guy or not.

I don't think they need that, I think him being solid is enough for the defense to be solid. Heck, if he's trash I think they could get by with Bland, Carson, and Moore assuming the other components of the defense and the scheme (especially at safety) come together.

Him being a stud would be very nice but I don't think it's needed for the defense to work, as Sturm is implying here.

Agreed, if he's just an average to above average starting CB our secondary is going to be very good.

And don't forget Durant who is probably without a doubt our second best CB right now, maybe even our best if Bland doesn't bounce back.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

While true, I think the point is whether the team NEEDS Revel to be The Guy or not.

I don't think they need that, I think him being solid is enough for the defense to be solid. Heck, if he's trash I think they could get by with Bland, Carson, and Moore assuming the other components of the defense and the scheme (especially at safety) come together.

Him being a stud would be very nice but I don't think it's needed for the defense to work, as Sturm is implying here.

I don't even know that's true. Do you expect that much generally from a third round pick? I get that we do because of the injury and first round pedigree. But on a normal run of the mill third round prospect? You're looking for a guy who can start and be solid.

If Barham is a solid starting MLBer I'm pretty happy and he was a third round pick.

 

[ravidubey]

I'm optimistic about each of our picks, though most are projections based on real talent vs an outright win like JRod would have been for example.

In any case, our secondary improved by leaps and bounds independently of Revel.

We still will give up our share of big plays, but I would be shocked to see the level of ineptness we showed last year, like the first Giants game for example.

 

[Genghis Khan]

Agreed, if he's just an average to above average starting CB our secondary is going to be very good.

And don't forget Durant who is probably without a doubt our second best CB right now, maybe even our best if Bland doesn't bounce back.

Yep totally forgot about Durant. Even better.

 

[Genghis Khan]

I don't even know that's true. Do you expect that much generally from a third round pick? I get that we do because of the injury and first round pedigree. But on a normal run of the mill third round prospect? You're looking for a guy who can start and be solid.

If Barham is a solid starting MLBer I'm pretty happy and he was a third round pick.

Agreed.

 

[Smitty]

Revel, Moore, Bland, Durant and Carson should be our five corners (not in that order), plus Downs as safety/nickel, that is a very nice group if they stay healthy.

 

[Simpleton]

Revel, Moore, Bland, Durant and Carson should be our five corners (not in that order), plus Downs as safety/nickel, that is a very nice group if they stay healthy.

Downs is basically going to be our slot CB so we're definitely fine in the secondary unless there's a rash of injuries plus guys like Revel and Carson stagnate or get worse.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

 

[ravidubey]

Revel, Moore, Bland, Durant and Carson should be our five corners (not in that order), plus Downs as safety/nickel, that is a very nice group if they stay healthy.

We need a stopper. Bland ain’t it. Maybe Parker can coach some of these guys up.

Also at least one edge who can threaten consistently. Lawrence is a rookie, and EZ showed very little last year. Pinning most of our hopes on Gary/. Maybe.

What’s great is the interior pressure seems set, at least to start the year.

 

[Smitty]

You don’t need a stopper at CB, you just need decent quality to extend into your depth and then a good front 7.

We have the depth, but the pass rush may leave us vulnerable. I still expect the D to be much better.

 

[Simpleton]

You don’t need a stopper at CB, you just need decent quality to extend into your depth and then a good front 7.

We have the depth, but the pass rush may leave us vulnerable. I still expect the D to be much better.

The only way the defense isn't much better is if Parker is a complete lemon and/or there is an ungodly rash of injuries.

Other than that they should at least be league average, although it could be up and down over the first month or two.

 

[Genghis Khan]

The only way the defense isn't much better is if Parker is a complete lemon and/or there is an ungodly rash of injuries.

Other than that they should at least be league average, although it could be up and down over the first month or two.

Even if Parker kind of sucks, at the very least they're running a modern defense with up to date concepts that actually have a chance to stop modern offenses. That alone will make us improve.

 

[Simpleton]

Even if Parker kind of sucks, at the very least they're running a modern defense with up to date concepts that actually have a chance to stop modern offenses. That alone will make us improve.

Our talent is also significantly better, as much as some may not want to buy that. We literally traded our best defensive player a week before the season for assets that wouldn't bear fruit until after the season (excluding Clark), with Quinnen and Lawrence being the return.

Then you have the cap space used on vets like Gary and Thompson, plus guys who were injured going into 2025 that they stupidly counted on who are now healthy in Overshown and Revel.

Our week 1 starters last year were rookie Ezeiruaku, Fowler, Clark, Osa, Murray, Sanborn, Damone Clark, Elam, Bland, Diggs, Wilson and Hooker, with guys like Sam Williams, Solomon Thomas and Marshawn Kneeland playing big roles.

This year you have 2nd year Ezeiruaku, Clark, Williams, Gary, Overshown, Winters, Bland, Revel, Durant, Downs, Thompson and Hooker as starters with guys like Lawrence, Bullard and Locke playing big roles, presumably.

To swap out guys like Murray/Sanborn, Elam, Diggs, Wilson and Fowler for guys like Overshown/Winters, Gary, Downs, Thomson and Durant is a pretty big upgrade on paper.

 

[ravidubey]

It’s all an upgrade overall, though mainly by replacing abject liabilities with known commodities— that is huge by itself, though you gag at the cronyist bullshit that routinely injects liabilities into our team.

Anyway… We are now banking that Overshown and Downs become stars to complement Williams.

 

[Simpleton]

It’s all an upgrade overall, though mainly by replacing abject liabilities with known commodities— that is huge by itself, though you gag at the cronyist bullshit that routinely injects liabilities into our team.

Anyway… We are now banking that Overshown and Downs become stars to complement Williams.

Downs will almost certainly, it's just a matter of time. Who knows with Overshown.

 

[Smitty]

It’s all an upgrade overall, though mainly by replacing abject liabilities with known commodities— that is huge by itself, though you gag at the cronyist bullshit that routinely injects liabilities into our team.

Anyway… We are now banking that Overshown and Downs become stars to complement Williams.

I mean, if Overshown just stays healthy, he doesn't have to be a star, but he's probably an improvement over what we've had.

That's the thing, we have filled black holes on defense with some solid pieces. Nothing is certain till it's certain but Barham/Winters/Overshown SHOULD be an improvement over Wilson/Murray/Sanborn.

Downs/Durant/Moore/Revel SHOULD be an improvement over the mish-mash of corners we trotted out there last year. Hell, I can't even give a coherent four name group because the names and starting snaps were all over the place. Diggs was trash. Reddy fucking Stewart (who???) started 5 games for us. Kaiir Elam. Trikweze Bridges (???).

I mean, three of those guys don't even belong on active rosters, and if you count Diggs fucking off, that's probably four guys who didn't belong on active rosters. Starting games for us. And then hell, Revel graded out as the worst starting CB in football with a minimum of X snaps or whatever, because he was recovering from injury and had no confidence. Bland was hurt all year. Etc.

If these guys are just healthy, they go from not NFL caliber to average. Just by staying healthy. I still have hopes for Carson but I'm not sure they like him.