FRISCO, Texas -- The Cowboys have added nearly 30 new players to the roster over the last two months, from a collection of free-agent signings, draft picks, undrafted free agents and even a few trades.
All in all, a third of the 90-man roster has been overhauled since mid-March, creating quite a few changes to each position.
Over the next few weeks, we'll take a closer look at where things stand at each position. The Cowboys won't release a depth chart until the first preseason game in August, so the following order of players is simply a projection, which of course, is always subject to change.
Let's continue our series with the safety position:
- Malik Hooker
- Donovan Wilson
- Juanyeh Thomas
- Markquese Bell
- Israel Mukuamu
- Alijah Clark
- Mike Smith
Battle to Watch: Can one of the two undrafted free agents crack the roster? Syracuse's Alijah Clark and Eastern Kentucky's Mike Smith have an interesting challenge in front of them and will likely have to beat the other out to earn a roster spot. With a likely early emphasis on how they can help on special teams, both have the ability to develop into players that can eventually contribute on defensive snaps. Clark is younger at 21 years old compared to Smith's 23 years of age, but Smith is heavier in his frame at 209 pounds to Clark's 188. The two were two of the three highest paid UDFA's in the Cowboys' class this year, meaning they believe enough in what they have to offer to give them a chance.
Time is Now: Juanyeh Thomas was one of three exclusive rights free agents that the Cowboys signed for the 2025 season, giving him another year to prove himself for Dallas. Thomas has been a contributor on special teams throughout his two NFL seasons thus far and didn't play as many defensive snaps last year as he did in his 2023 season. Can he earn more snaps in 2025 and solidify a spot in the secondary going forward? He'll need a good camp to do so, and already has set himself up nicely as a special teams contributor.
Trait-Mark: Donovan Wilson's hard-hitting physicality can change games for the Cowboys. He's forced at least one fumble in four out of his last five NFL seasons, and has three straight years of 80 or more tackles including 101 back in 2022. At times, he can be a liability in coverage and certainly needs to continue working on that end of his game, but he does a lot of what Matt Eberflus will already want him to do against the run and trying to knock the ball free from opposing offenses.
Don't Forget About … Malik Hooker has been so consistent along the Cowboys' secondary that it feels like at times, he's forgotten about. That's not necessarily a bad thing, because it means he isn't getting completely picked on, and has been relatively healthy during the course of his time with the Cowboys. Now, he reunites with his former defensive coordinator in Indianapolis Matt Eberflus, who coached him for his final three seasons in Indianapolis. He's had at least one interception in seven of his eight NFL seasons and for the most part, has been a reliable coverage safety for the Cowboys in his four years in Dallas.
