The Dallas Cowboys lost All-Pro cornerback Trevon Diggs after two games in 2023, but they got an insane season from DaRon Bland as he led the NFL with nine interceptions and set a record with five touchdown returns, and also veteran Stephon Gilmore had a solid year. However, with Gilmore not returning, the Cowboys needed to prioritize getting a cornerback, and they took Caelen Carson in the fifth round out of Wake Forest.
He came into the league with a reputation for being a physical corner that was sticky in coverage and would fight wide receivers through routes.