Carson could be a sneaky fit here for the Cowboys.
He's not the fastest cornerer in the class, but he's not exactly towing a trailer either. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.48 seconds (57th percentile) in pre-draft testing. For reference, All-Pro cornerback Trevon Diggs ran the 40-yard dash in 4.42 seconds at the NFL Combine.
Carson not only brings experience, having started 36 games with the Demon Deacons, but he also has the frame and ability needed to operate on the perimeter as a true press corner. Because it's not a coincidence. Again, Gilmore remains a free agent and that's the role the veteran will play in 2023.
This is great value for the Cowboys as well, considering there are some boards that value Carson as a late third-rounder and Dallas took him after two rounds.
He was a two-way player in high school as well, and the added athleticism that comes with both demands also gives him some of the pieces that help make Diggs special. He is a former wide receiver who became a defensive back in college.
This doesn't mean Carson is Diggs, but the similarities can't be ignored either.
What he needs to improve on is cleaning up his penalties. He is known for his skill with press coverage, which can be both a gift and a curse in the NFL, and he simply needs to improve. how He uses his hands at a professional level. Carson also needs to be glued to assistant head coach Al Harris to hone his technique and reactions in zone coverage.
As a total package, Carson offers physicality, quality route reading (also a former WR), a dynamic catch radius, and enough speed to be almost unbeatable with a straight-line release.
There's a lot of potential here for him to mold into a contributor under Harris and defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, himself a former defensive backs coach.
