The Dallas Cowboys had one of the worst defenses in franchise history last season. As such, it wouldn't be much of a surprise to see team owner/general manager Jerry Jones let every single player go if he could.
Even though that's not how the league works, that doesn't mean most of the underperforming guys will be safe. And with a plethora of defensive talent joining the team this offseason, the writing is already on the wall for one defender who blossomed under Dan Quinn.
That's the case with veteran safety Markquese Bell. Once a fan favorite under Quinn, Bell has fallen behind in the pecking order. And with P.J. Locke, Jalen Thompson, and Caleb Downs arriving and Malik Hooker seemingly not going anywhere, Moe Moton of Bleacher Report chose Bell as an obvious cut candidate:
"In 2025, Markquese Bell logged 41 tackles (one for loss), three pass breakups and an interception while on the field for 32 percent of the defensive snaps, but he may be fourth among safeties on the depth chart. The 27-year-old is also facing felony and misdemeanor drug charges stemming from an April arrest, as first reported by ESPN, and the case remains ongoing."
Markquese Bell might be living his last days with the Dallas Cowboys
Of course, anything can change in Organized Team Activities (OTAs). Even so, Bell will have to do plenty of heavy lifting to convince new defensive coordinator Christian Parker that he's worth keeping around. Even if that's the case, he may only truly compete with Hooker for the third spot in the depth chart.
Thompson may even swoop in to wear the green dot for next year. Lots of fans would root for Downs to be that guy, but all of that shows how far Bell has to climb.
Bell looked like a player on the rise under Quinn, but after suffering a season-ending shoulder injury, it took a toll. He wasn't much of a factor under Matt Eberflus, and while he can also play in the slot and contribute to special teams, the Cowboys now have one of the deepest safety rooms in the entire league.
The Cowboys need their bottom-feeding defense to complement their explosive offense, and that ultimately means parting ways with some guys. Bell is still young and, if his legal situation turns out well, he might find a new home soon, but there's no point in keeping him if he's going to sit on the bench.
In the meantime, Parker and the Cowboys will rely heavily on Downs, one of the most talented and promising players in this class. They have to get him on the field early and often and give him as many snaps as he can handle, so everybody else should compete to start next to him.
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