The Dallas Cowboys will need to address their safety room this offseason, be it in the draft or in free agency.
Of course, unless Ohio State Buckeyes safety Caleb Downs falls to No. 12 in the draft, or Cowboys owner/general manager Jerry Jones decides to trade multiple picks to move up, free agency is the more likely option. Jones likely knows better than to trade significant capital for a rookie safety.
That leaves free agency as an option to potentially replace Donovan Wilson, who's an impending unrestricted free agent, or Malik Hooker, who's a potential cut candidate, with a starter-ready player in the secondary.
Enter: Denver Broncos unrestricted free agent P.J. Locke, who is familiar with new Cowboys defensive coordinator Christian Parker from their shared time in the Mile High City.
"When free agency starts, count safety P.J. Locke among the names the Cowboys expressed interest in," Dallas Morning News' Calvin Watking reported on Sunday. "The return of Cowboys free agent safety Donovan Wilson is fluid one person with knowledge of his decision-making process said."
Longtime Dallas insider Clarence Hill Jr. confirmed a potential Locke-Cowboys union is on the table, saying, "Cowboys plan to look at safety in P. J. Locke in free agency. He is represented by agent David Mulugheta of Athletes First. Mulugheta is inevitable."
P.J. Locke Would Be the Perfect Cowboys Signing to Open Free Agency
Locke had become a backup to Brandon Jones on the Broncos, emerging in the latter half of the season after Jones went down with a torn pec. He may have earned long-term money for helping Denver make it to the AFC Championship, giving up zero receptions in 60 coverage snaps. Only three players in the postseason could lay stake to that claim.
In particular, during the Broncos' 33-30 win in the AFC Divisional Round, Locke was stout in coverage. He was on the field during 74 of 78 defensive snaps and intercepted Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, which was the first interception for the 2024 NFL MVP in over 200 playoff snaps.
Locke offers versatility all over the secondary — something Parker stressed is important in his schemes during his introductory press conference last month.
"You want to build a package that has diversity and scheme, and then you want to tailor it to the players you have. Of course, there are schematic fits, but I think the really good players are the ones you can't peg them into a certain scheme and that's the only way they can play football."Christian Parker, Cowboys DC
Of course, Parker knows what Locke can do, making a potential transition to the Lone Star State much easier.
Philadelphia Eagles safety Reed Blankenship is another option for the Cowboys in free agency if they don't sign Locke and don't bring back Hooker. Blankenship, like Locke, is familiar with Parker from their time together in the City of Brotherly Love.
Removing Locke from the Broncos would worsen a Super Bowl contender while filling a crucial need on the Cowboys' defense. The fact that Parker's former pupil wouldn't break the bank — Spotrac is projecting an annual market value of $3.6 million — is the icing on the cake.
The Cowboys' defense was their Achilles heel last season, and they can't afford for history to be repeated. Signing Locke, who already has Parker's trust, would be a huge first step towards turning the unit around before the 2026 campaign.