The Dallas Cowboys’ defense was supposed to be a powerhouse in 2025, with a secondary stacked with talent and depth. Instead, after just two weeks of the NFL season, it’s become a glaring liability—and cornerback Kaiir Elam is at the heart of the storm. Leading the league with 232 receiving yards allowed, Elam’s struggles have spotlighted a secondary that’s unraveling faster than a cheap sweater.
In Sunday’s win, Pro Football Focus handed Elam a dismal 58.2 coverage grade, a number that reflects his struggles to keep opposing receivers in check. To be fair, the entire Cowboys secondary looked lost, resembling a group of players still learning the playbook rather than a unit expected to anchor a playoff-caliber defense. But Elam, a former first-round pick acquired in a trade by Jerry Jones, has been the most glaring weak link. His inability to lock down receivers has turned what was hyped as a strength into a patchwork operation, with backups and even undrafted players being forced into action.
The warning signs were there. Elam couldn’t crack the starting lineup in Buffalo, where he was outshined by Christian Benford, Rasul Douglas, and Dane Jackson. Despite tallying 81 tackles, six passes defensed, and two interceptions during his time with the Bills, his coverage skills never lived up to his draft pedigree. Jones’ gamble on the former first-rounder is looking like a miss, proving once again that high draft status doesn’t guarantee success.
The Cowboys’ defensive woes extend beyond Elam. The absence of star cornerback DaRon Bland, sidelined by injury, has left a massive void. Trevon Diggs, still working his way back from his own injury, hasn’t been able to fully compensate. What was billed as one of the deepest position groups on the roster has become a revolving door of inexperience and inconsistency.
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Head coach Matt Eberflus’ heavy reliance on zone coverage isn’t helping. Dallas runs more zone than any team in the NFL, but without a consistent pass rush—especially in the absence of Micah Parsons—the scheme is falling apart. Other teams that lean on zone coverage, like the Ravens or Chiefs, have the defensive front to generate pressure and disrupt quarterbacks. The Cowboys? Not so much. Opposing offenses are picking apart Dallas’ secondary with alarming ease, exploiting gaps and missed assignments.
The Cowboys face a critical two-game stretch against the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers. Splitting these games is a must if Dallas hopes to stay afloat before hitting the softer part of their schedule. The Bears, perennial offseason darlings, are off to another 0-2 start, but don’t let that fool you—they’ll still require Dallas to put up a hefty point total to secure a win. Jerry Jones hinted that Bland could return this week, but the injury report later in the week will tell the full story.
Even if Bland returns, the Cowboys’ secondary needs more than a single player to fix its issues. The loss of Stephon Gilmore, who many argued should still be in a Cowboys uniform in 2024, looms large. Without a significant turnaround, Dallas’ defense risks derailing what was supposed to be a promising season.
For Kaiir Elam, the clock is ticking. The Cowboys need him to shake off his early-season struggles and start playing like the first-round talent he was drafted to be. If he can’t, Dallas may have to lean even harder on their offense, scoring 35+ points to outpace opponents—a strategy that’s unsustainable for a team with Super Bowl aspirations. The secondary’s performance in the coming weeks will define whether this unit can salvage its reputation or continue to be the Achilles’ heel of America’s Team.