3 UDFAs will battle it out to follow path recently forged by others at the position

The Dallas Cowboys safety position has oddly been a stable force over the last few years. Previous to this, the Cowboys had grown notorious for their flippant attitude towards the position. The year-to-year volatility of the position seemingly soured the front office on investing in this last line of defense. Instead of investing high dollars or high draft picks, the Dallas front office opted to bargain hunt at the position. And it mostly worked out.

The Cowboys have seen major returns from players such as Jayron Kearse, Malik Hooker, Donovan Wilson, Juanyeh Thomas and Markquese Bell. This collection of journeymen, reclamations, and lowly-regarded prospects have given the Cowboys high-end play and depth. Even with Kearse now gone, the depth at position is strong with Israel Mukuamu providing some unique versatility deep down the depth chart. But all that depth could be coming to an end in the near future.

Thomas, Wilson and Mukuamu are all scheduled to hit some form of free agency after the 2025 season leaving Hooker and Bell to hold things down alone. Perhaps this is what inspired the Cowboys to prioritize the safety position in undrafted free agency this year, signing three right out of the gates. In an effort to get ahead of the curve Dallas looks to be kicking the tires on a new batch of unheralded prospects, hoping to groom them into something bigger down the road.

Alijah Clark, Syracuse

Clark, at 6-foot-1 and 188-pounds, rated No. 366 on the draft consensus board. This well-rounded safety has ample experience deep, in the box and on the boundary. He has good length, speed and athleticism and brings an NFL skillset to the Cowboys this year.

He doesn’t standout in any single area, so he probably won’t jump off the tape in training camp. But he’s experienced and solid throughout and could be the perfect candidate to work the practice squad now and compete for a roster spot in 2026.

Zion Childress, Kentucky

Childress, 5-foot-11 and 199-pounds, comes in at No. 468 on the consensus board. The two-year team captain brings fire and tenacity to the position even if he’s a little undersized. His game is smart but his production is lacking so it’s difficult to project him at the next level.

Childress looks best as a nickel safety who can cover and get downhill to deliver hits. He may not stand out in either aspect, but his character ensures he’ll work to get the most from his ability.

Mike Smith, Eastern Kentucky

Smith, 6-foot-1, 209-pounds, rated an uninspiring No. 709 on the draft consensus board making him an unlikely candidate to compete for the Cowboys. But looks can be deceiving and this former three-star recruit comes with coverage ability that could position him to shine in practice and the preseason.

Smith can play back in a shared deep role or up in the box in zone or man coverage. Much like Mukuamu, Smith could be a match-up weapon in coverage. He collected four interceptions and 10 pass deflections his final season at Eastern Kentucky, so he has some production to build around. For what it’s worth, Dane Brugler seems to like him more than the consensus, slotting Smith just one spot below Alijah Clark on his safety big board.

Conclusion

It’s unlikely any of these players will make the roster in 2025 but all three are candidates to get stashed and groomed on the practice squad. Special team will be critical for their survival since the Cowboys lean on the safety depth to round out special teams units.  

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This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: 3 UDFAs will battle it out to follow path recently forged by others