FRISCO, Texas â Newly signed Cowboys CB Cobie Durant was in his home state of South Carolina when he got the call about joining the Cowboys in free agency.
He couldn't have gotten to Dallas faster.
"It's a blessing," Durant said. "Just getting a chance to come to Dallas and add to the secondary, a room full of playmakers, and just bring what I know in being in this league for four years to add on with DaRon Bland and everybody else in that room. Just to come in and make plays."
Durant, 28, met Friday with the Cowboys' new defensive staff, including defensive coordinator Christan Parker, defensive pass game coordinator/DBs coach Derrick Ansley and secondary coach Ryan Smith.
"Great guys, great coaches," Durant said of the meeting. "I'm ready to attack this game and allow them to help me improve, and push them to push me."
In his four seasons with the Rams, Durant lined up both inside and outside as a cornerback. With the Cowboys, he's open to playing wherever Parker and the coaching staff feel he can flourish.
"Everybody knows, [Smith] knows, [Ansley] knows, [Parker] knows that I play both inside and out," Durant said. "Wherever I can contribute to the team and commit those turnovers and get the ball back to Dak [Prescott]. Whether that's inside, outside, boundary, field, it doesn't matter. 'The Landshark's' just coming to play."
His nickname, "The Landshark," came to mind while watching the 2016 film starring Blake Lively called "The Shallows," and it correlates with his position as cornerbacks are often on an island of their own.
On his island, Durant is looking to provide Dallas with a player that will generate more opportunities for the Cowboys' offense, which averaged the second-most yards per game in the league in 2025.
"Just create takeaways and get the ball back to Dak. Let Dak do what he do. I'm excited for it. Like I said, got great guys in that secondary and I'm just here to add on⌠They're getting a guy that the media says is too small. But you know, it ain't all about the size of the dog, it's the size of the heart in the dog. 'The Landshark's' coming to make plays and add on to this defense."
At 5'11 and 181 pounds, chatter about being undersized is something that Durant has heard plenty of his entire football career. He's used it as motivation, and looks up to a player with a similar build for inspiration.
Tyrann Matthieu is my role model since I was in middle school. Just seeing his body type, he's not the biggest, he's not six-foot, he's not six-three, but he's a playmaker and always around the ball. That's how my take is approaching the game, just committing those turnovers.
And create turnovers he has. Durant has seven interceptions in four seasons, and added three more to his tally in the 2025 playoffs with three, which led the NFL in postseason interceptions last year. Durant's takeaway ability combined with the physical style of play he displays as well as what he calls "God-fidence" has created a defensive identity for himself that he's proud of.
"I take a lot of pride into it because I'm on the smaller spectrum of things," Durant said. "When I go out there, I don't think about it as much as just be myself, be the Landshark and just go make plays⌠I approach the game with God-fidence, not confidence, really. It's God-fidence for me, God with confidence. That's my way of approaching it. Because when I'm between those white lines, they've got to see me just like I've got to see them."
