The weakest position room needs Dallas’ full attention

The weakest link in the chain on defense for the Dallas Cowboys was at safety in 2024.

As of this moment, it remains so. They have retained two of their safeties in free agency but have not addressed the position with the signing of an outside free agent.

Looking at the numbers in 2024, especially how they have fallen from 2023, that should be a cause for alarm for Cowboys fans.

Malik Hooker and Donovan Wilson started all 17 games at safety last year for Dallas.

Hooker finished with 81 tackles, two interceptions, and five forced fumbles. Wilson added 82 tackles, five defended passes, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, and an interception.

Wilson has been a consistent performer in the backfield for the Cowboys, averaging 90 tackles a year.

But when it comes to the bench, the pickings get mighty slim on the sidelines.

Juanyeh Thomas saw action in 13 games in 2024. He had 14 tackles, forced a fumble, and defended a pass.

In 2023, Thomas was in 16 games, starting once, with 22 tackles and four defended passes.

Josh Butler, in his rookie year, had 21 tackles, defended five passes, and recorded a sack.

Markquese Bell moved back to safety in 2024 after playing mostly as a linebacker for Dan Quinn in 2023. Under Mike Zimmer last season, he had six tackles in nine games and none as a starter.

In 2023, Bell played in 17 games, started in eight, and had 94 tackles with two forced fumbles and four defended passes.

That’s quite a significant drop-off.

Almost as much as the drop-off between the two starters and the three backups going into 2025. That’s a big problem that needs to be addressed.

Roster Review 2025: Safeties. This is final part of a 30-part series. Click here for a list of all related articles.

Outlook For 2025

Israel Mukuamu could probably rotate back to safety if absolutely needed, despite being listed on some depth charts as a cornerback.

Unless the Cowboys address the position in free agency or next month’s draft, he’ll almost certainly have to.

In all likelihood, Hooker and Wilson will be the starters at safety this fall under new defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus. However, the bench needs to step up.

It would be foolish to expect both starters to last long if they are playing every down of every game.

There are going to be times when the other safeties will need to get it done. For Bell, a return to his previous numbers is a must.

Thomas showed signs of promise in 2024. He needs to build on that in 2025 and beyond.

Butler is an unknown going into the fall.

He didn’t outshine anyone as a rookie, but he could build on last year and help the team by continuing to improve.

Otherwise, a defense that couldn’t stop the pass or the run in 2024, is liable to get run over again in 2025.

Long-Term Outlook

Wilson and Thomas will hit free agency after the 2025 season. Wilson, who makes $8.65 million this year, will be an unrestricted free agent next March.

Thomas will earn a little over $1 million this year before becoming a restricted free agent in 2026.

Butler will make $960,000 and will be an ERFA next spring.

Hooker will earn $7.7 million this year, $9 million in 2026 and become an unrestricted free agent in 2027.

Bell is under contract through the end of 2027, earning a combined $8.7 million for the next three seasons. He will be an unrestricted free agent in 2028.

If the Cowboys are unable to build up the position this year, they will find themselves in even more of a bind in 2026.

The problem is, they have so many holes on the roster that even 10 draft picks can’t fill.

With seven of those picks coming after the fourth round, finding an immediate impact player on the draft’s third day is a difficult task.

Finding seven? I’m not sure even John Wick could pull off that “impossible task” no matter how hard he tried.