FRISCO, Texas — P.J. Locke wants nothing more than "to be great" in his bid to be homecoming king in 2026. The Beaumont native grew up cheering for the very same Dallas Cowboys he'll now suit up for next season, reuniting with both DeMarvion Overshown and Christian Parker in the process.
His relationship with Overshown began during their days together at the University of Texas, including Locke hosting a young Overshown on his visit to Austin, but it's his bond with Parker that the Cowboys hope will pay massive dividends going forward.
"First and foremost, he was my [defensive backs] coach," he said of Parker, having spent time learning from the Cowboys' new defensive coordinator with the Denver Broncos. "I've been in the same system since I entered the NFL, so I think it's pretty much gonna be a similar system.
"He'll throw some twists and turns in it and make it his own, but it's gonna be a familiar scheme. And, versatility, those are the types of players he wants, especially in the secondary. I made my decision based on that."
No stranger to a hard road, Locke has clawed his way from the ranks of the undrafted in 2019, to a key special teams player and, ultimately, to a starting safety in the Mile High City; and that also meant overcoming an unexpected issue in his back that created weakness in his leg back in 2024.
Faced with undergoing surgery and potentially never playing football again, or avoiding it and risking a severed nerve on a tackle or hit that could leave him with a lifeless leg entirely, Locke made the difficult decision to have the procedure done. It thankfully worked out well for him, and he noted how much "faster" and "stronger" he feels nowadays, attributes that lend to the versatility that has always attracted Parker to him.
That said, given the calendar still reads March, where he'll line up on any given play in six months from now is obviously to-be-determined.
"[CP and I] have talked about it a bit, and it all depends on how the depth chart shakes out," Locke said. "I played nickel in college, and two different types — a cover nickel and a run fit type of nickel as well. That experience shaped me into the player I am today. I'm just super comfortable in this system. I've been in it for seven years, going on eight; and however he wants to structure the system, I'll be able to pick that up."
Locke also wants his teammates to know he'll help them pick it up as well, his plan being to not only compete at a high level in practices, but to also help Parker gain immediate buy-in from younger players who will need the assistance of a guy who knows exactly what Parker expects, why certain plays are being called, so forth and so on.
The 29-year-old says to sign him up as a locker room leader, understanding the defense needs to get turned around in short order, and not three or four years from now.
"I had great vets — Justin Simmons and Kareem Jackson — that helped me become the player I am today," said Locke. "They helped me with the longevity of my career. Having great vets is very beneficial to the young guys. I know the ins and outs of [his system] and however CP wants it done, I'm pretty sure I've seen it before.
"… Having great vets helps young guys, and I wanna let the young guys know that if they have questions, I have answers for them. And if I don't have the answer, I'm gonna make sure I get them for you."
