Dallas Cowboys: 3 Safety options after Jamal Adams trade falls through
By Randy Gurzi
3. T.J. McDonald
There was a point when T.J. McDonald was one of the bigger names at the position in the NFL. While he was never named to a Pro Bowl, he had some success with the St. Louis Rams — and even started 16 games with them when they moved to Los Angeles in 2016.
A former third-round pick from USC, McDonald started 53 games in four seasons with the Rams and had a breakout season as a sophomore in 2014. That year, he recorded 105 tackles, two sacks, an interception, and broke up six passes.
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He then recorded 124 more tackles in the following two seasons — while missing five games in that stretch — before signing a one-year deal with the Miami Dolphins.
McDonald parlayed that into a four-year $24 million deal despite missing eight games. He was unable to play out that contract, however, as he was cut this past August after starting 22 games in two seasons with the Dolphins.
In all, McDonald had 131 tackles, and four interceptions in that span with a career-high three picks in his final season. To date, no one has re-signed him but at 28 years of age, it would seem as though he could still have something left in the tank.
He wouldn’t bring the same splash someone such as Jamal Adams would but McDonald is a hard-hitting safety the could, at the very least, split time with Jeff Heath as Dallas waits until the offseason to find a long-term answer.