Oftentimes it’s depth that separates good defenses from great ones. This offseason, the Dallas Cowboys made sure to go out and get not just new starters for the defense, but key backups as well. Because of their efforts, their safety room might be loaded going into 2026, with guys like Jalen Thompson, Caleb Downs, and Malik Hooker.
On top of this, ESPN's Bill Barnwell recently published an article that created an NFL roster from the best backups. On defense, Cowboys backup safety P.J. Locke was listed as a starter.
"Locke was probably stretched as a starter for the Broncos in 2024 and might be best as a third safety. But as a player in his prime with starting experience on a very good defense, he's going to be a starter for this team."
Who is P.J. Locke and what can he contribute to the Cowboys?
Dallas picked up Locke on a cheap one-year, $5 million contract in the offseason. He spent his first six seasons with the Broncos, grinding it out as an undrafted free agent. He’s a serviceable player who will be ready whenever his name is called upon. His stats for his Denver tenure include 174 tackles, four sacks, five forced fumbles, 11 pass deflections and two interceptions.
On plenty of NFL rosters, he’d be competing for a starting job. In Dallas, he'll settle in as the third safety.
For Locke, he's going to be waiting for his time, and he's going to get his time. But for fans, he's a veteran safety who fans would've done cartwheels for last year. Locke has gotten in on plenty of action, even when he was behind in the Broncos' depth chart.
In 2025, Locke was called upon as the starter late in the season after starter Brandon Jones went down with an injury. He started in one regular-season game and two playoff matchups. In the playoffs, he intercepted Josh Allen at a crucial point in the third quarter, helping the Broncos win 33-30 in overtime.
Locke gives the Cowboys that much-needed depth that could help lock down the defense. He’ll get on the field in certain packages, be ready to start in case of injury, and won’t be afraid of the moment. It was an overlooked signing that could pay dividends come the season.
In addition, offensive guard T.J. Bass was on Barnwell's backup team, but should the OL need him, he can step up, as he would be starting material on at least half the teams in the league.
For Locke, he may be waiting for his minutes initially, but that's why this safety room is already loads better than 2025.
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