Going into the 2024 season, if there is a single position room on the Dallas Cowboys’ roster that is locked down it is the defensive backs.
It is certainly the strongest of the three rooms on the defensive side of the ball. Even if the Cowboys decide not to bring back free agent Stephon Gilmore.
Prior to his practice injury last season, Trevon Diggs was considered one of the top cornerbacks in the NFL.
After Diggs’ injury, DaRon Bland stepped up. Bland set an NFL record for interceptions retuned for a touchdown in a single season.
As the new season approaches, Dallas had already improved its safety position before even drafting or signing a free agent.
Markquese Bell moves back to safety this season after playing linebacker under Dan Quinn’s system.
The Cowboys did add a cornerback in the draft – nabbing Caelen Carson in the fifth round – as well as three undrafted free agents.
They added a pair of safeties as undrafted free agent signings the day after the draft too.
Dallas currently has 17 defensive backs on the roster – not counting Gilmore. Not all of them will make the final 53.
But new defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer should have all he needs in the defensive backfield – assuming Diggs returns to form – for 2024.
Cornerbacks
The Cowboys have eight cornerbacks on the roster.
After Diggs, Bland, and Carson the cupboard gets a little bare. C.J. Goodwin will be playing his 10th year – assuming he isn’t cut.
In his six years in Dallas, Goodwin has suited up for 74 games but never as a starter. He has just 41 tackles and one forced fumble in those contests combined.
Jourdan Lewis is next up in NFL experience in the room, having played in Dallas for his entire career.
He has 51 starts in 99 games in his eight-year career. He has nine interceptions and eight fumble recoveries with 315 tackles and 8.5 sacks.
Nahshon Wright is next on the seniority chart with three NFL years played – all in Dallas.
Wright has three starts in 32 games with just 37 tackles and one interception.
Eric Scott Jr. was drafted in the sixth round last year and never saw the field in 2023.
Josh Butler was signed as a free agent last year after playing for the USFL’s Michigan Panthers in the spring. Butler never saw the field in 2023 either.
Butler graduated from Michigan State and went undrafted in 2018. He was out of football until landing on the Panthers roster.
He will be 28 before the year is over.
Josh DeBerry went undrafted last month out of Texas A&M and was signed as an undrafted free agent the day after the draft concluded.
It seems unlikely that Goodwin and Butler will make the roster, or the practice squad, in 2024.
Safeties
As this moment, it looks like Donovan Wilson will start at strong safety with Malik Hooker set to start at free safety.
But that could change as the summer plays out. Both men will have competition for their jobs out in Oxnard.
And that’s assuming the Cowboys don’t bring back Jayron Kearse, who remains an unsigned free agent.
If Kearse lands elsewhere – or doesn’t land anywhere at all, including in Dallas – look for Juanyeh Thomas to push Wilson.
Bell, no longer playing as an undersized linebacker, will give Hooker a run for his money this fall as well.
And don’t forget about Israel Mukuamu either. He had a down year in 2023. But in Zimmer’s defense, his fourth year could be his best yet in the NFL.
As with the cornerbacks, the Cowboys get very young after the starters.
Dallas added two safeties shortly after last month’s draft concluded as undrafted free agents.
Emany Johnson, Nevada, and Julius Wood, East Carolina, will have a lot of work to do to make the team’s roster or practice squad.
Sheldrick Redwine has played four seasons for four different teams in the last five years. He started eight games for the Browns in 2019 and 2020.
But he’s been a mostly unproductive backup ever since.
Expect Redwine to be off the roster by the end of August.
