NFL Spin Zone
Fansided

Predicting the Dallas Cowboys final roster in early training camp

By Randy Gurzi

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - DECEMBER 22: Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys looks to hand the ball to Ezekiel Elliott #21 during the first half against the Philadelphia Eagles in the game at Lincoln Financial Field on December 22, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - DECEMBER 22: Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys looks to hand the ball to Ezekiel Elliott #21 during the first half against the Philadelphia Eagles in the game at Lincoln Financial Field on December 22, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
9 of 11
Next
Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys (Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images) /

Dallas Cowboys roster: Safety (4)

They didn’t go out and land Jamal Adams, which is what many Cowboys fans wanted, but the Dallas front office did finally add someone in free agency. But that was the end of their search this offseason.

Ha Ha Clinton-Dix

For years, the Cowboys front office neglected the safety position as they were fine looking for diamonds in the rough year after year. This didn’t mean they never kicked the tires on top-tier safety talent, because they would look at just about every draft pick while also exploring trades fro Earl Thomas and Jamal Adams. They would just never pull the trigger.

This offseason, they changed their philosophy some. While they didn’t land an elite player, they did sign a former first-round pick in Ha Ha Clinton-Dix. The Alabama product has had a solid NFL career and comes in on a one-year deal, which will hopefully motivate him to prove he deserves a longer contract.

Xavier Woods

One of the diamonds in the rough Dallas found at safety was Louisiana Tech’s Xavier Woods. A sixth-round pick in 2017, Woods is entering the final season of his rookie deal. It’s also going to be his third season as a starter but there’s one chance as he’s moving from free safety to strong safety with Clinton-Dix coming in to play the centerfield role.

In today’s NFL, the positions are much more interchangeable than in years past but there’s still going to be some changes to his assignments. Woods should be fine though as he’s proven to be a willing tackler and is above average in coverage.

Darian Thompson

The Cowboys added Darian Thompson in 2018 and the former New York Giants second-round pick has been a good addition for them. He had 45 tackles last season and should be the primary reserve behind Woods and Clinton-Dix.

Donovan Wilson

During the 2019 preseason, Donovan Wilson turned heads with his nose for the football. He had three picks and was the MVP of the exhibition games. In the regular season, it was a different story. Wilson appeared in 11 games but hardly saw the field and recorded just two tackles.

This season, they’re expecting more as he will be expected to replace Kavon Frazier as the hard-hitting safety they lean on in special teams. Fortunately for Wilson, his ability to get after the ball carrier and deliver a punishing hit is what made him popular with the Aggies.

Home/Dallas Cowboys