FRISCO, Texas — The second day of legal tampering involves the Dallas Cowboys continuing to put effort into trying to rebuild and strengthen the defensive side of the ball for defensive coordinator Christian Parker. Their latest move involves doubling down at safety, bringing P.J. Locke to Dallas.
It's a homecoming of sorts for Locke, who has agreed to terms on a one-year deal that will be finalized when the new league year begins at 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday.
The 29-year-old is a former undrafted free agent signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2019, swiftly pivoting to the Denver Broncos a few months later, when he was signed to that team's practice squad before the conclusion of the 2019 season.
He'd turn into a core special teamer while also carving out a foothold on defense, eventually being named starting strong safety in 2024, appearing in 15 starts in 15 games en route to a career-best season that included 74 combined tackles and a forced fumble.
Locke isn't simply returning to the state of Texas, where he's a native (Beaumont) before playing college football at the University of Texas, but the familiarity also runs deep with Parker, considering the two spent time together in the Mile High City — making this addition one that has Parker's fingerprints all over it.
He'll join fellow new addition Jalen Thompson in a safeties room that still features Malik Hooker but not Donovan Wilson, at this point, as the latter remains unsigned in free agency heading into Tuesday afternoon; and the decision to not tender Juanyeh Thomas left a vacancy to be filled as well, both defensively and on special teams.
The Cowboys are hoping Locke fills the void in 2026, and he certainly has the potential to do so.
