The Dallas Cowboys secondary is a group that has the most to prove in 2020. The safety position has long been the weak link for this franchise and the team has refused to address it via free agency, the draft, or even trade. Rumours swirling around Earl Thomas and dreams of signing Jamal Adams have thus far been only that, rumours and dreams. In addition to the obvious concerns at safety, the Cowboys lost shut down corner Byron Jones in free agency. They did not replace him with another player capable of being a true number one corner. The initial 53 man roster is now set and the current Dallas Cowboys secondary is composed of the following players:
- Chidobe Awuzie
- Jourdan Lewis
- Anthony Brown
- Trevon Diggs
- Daryl Worley
- Xavier Woods
- Darian Thompson
- Donovan Wilson
- Reggie Robinson II
Striking among that group is the fact that the Cowboys are only carrying 3 true safeties Woods, Thompson, and Wilson. They cut free agent signing Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and relegated Luther Kirk to the practice squad. With their best safety Xavier Woods nursing an injury, thoughts of signing Earl Thomas are once again swirling around in the minds of Cowboys fans. So far that has not happened but instead the Cowboys added former cornerback Brandon Carr who was moved to safety last season with the Ravens and added him to the practice squad. If the Cowboys decide to roll with this group, one potential solution is that they have multiple players that could play either cornerback or safety such as Awuzie, Worley, and Reggie Robinson II. In fact, Robinson was officially moved to safety just recently. Maybe a move to safety for someone like Cheedo could have as much of an impact as when Byron Jones moved over to cornerback and became a Pro-Bowler.
Speaking of cornerback, that is a position that has become a huge concern for Cowboys fans. With Byron Jones gone, Chidobe Awuzie becomes the default number one corner and he struggled at times last season. Jourdan Lewis is a fan favorite but he has not seemed to get sufficient opportunities and an injury in training camp could continue to hold him back. Anthony Brown has been a consistent player since he was drafted in 2016 but he is nothing special. One player who has the potential to really shine is rookie Trevon Diggs. He was given an opportunity to work with the first team in training camp while Awuzie nursed an injury and has impressed. It is risky to trust a rookie to start right away but if he can get the job done that would be huge for these Cowboys. Reggie Robinson II has position versatility but his biggest impact is likely on special teams where he blocked four kicks in college. Worley is another versatile chess piece that will allow the Cowboys flexibility with their depth in the secondary.
The Dallas Cowboys secondary is likely the biggest weakness on the defensive side of the ball. The hopes of Dallas Cowboys fans everywhere ride on the expectation that the defensive front will put enough pressure on the quarterback to make the linebackers and defensive backs jobs easier. This years version of the Dallas Cowboys defense may be more susceptible to the big play but they will also likely create more turnovers. That will be a welcome change for many a Cowboys fan if that rings true.
*Photo by Jeffrey Beall – Own work, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=62535848