4 Dallas Cowboys X-factors for 2022 season
By Randy Gurzi
Dallas Cowboys X-factor No. 2: Jayron Kearse, S
Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. S. 2. player. 123. Cowboys. Jayron Kearse
A surprise star for the Dallas Cowboys in 2021 was strong safety Jayron Kearse. The sixth-year veteran was one of three safeties signed ahead of the season but his addition made no waves at all — whereas Damontae Kazee and Malik Hooker both came in with much higher expectations.
A former reserve with the Minnesota Vikings, Kearse had 59 tackles with the Detroit Lions in 2020 which helped him get on the Cowboys’ radar and once he was in Big D, he showed out.
Kearse had 101 tackles, 10 pass defenses, two picks, and a sack — he also nearly had at least two more picks as he was constantly in a position to make a play on the ball.
Once the season was over, Dallas rewarded Kearse for his hard work, signing him to a two-year extension. They also brought back Hooker for the same amount of time, finally giving them a set of starting safeties they can believe in.
As for Kearse, this defense is going to depend on him heavily in 2022. He proved to be one of the vocal and physical leaders on this team. Not only did he have no problem speaking up — but he also played with a violent streak that was contagious.
In 2021, the Cowboys’ defense thrived on the turnover and there’s a chance they won’t get as many bounces this season. That’s why it will be important for Kearse to continue to be a trend-setter and help them work toward being a shut-down defense.