Are the Dallas Cowboys undervaluing the safety position?
After refusing to address a void at safety, are the Dallas Cowboys undervaluing the position if they elect not to pursue a trade for an All-Pro?
This offseason, the Dallas Cowboys decided to make some coaching changes following a disappointing 9-7 campaign in 2017. The most impactful addition out of these moves could end up being the hiring of defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator Kris Richard.
The Seattle Seahawks’ defensive coordinator for the past three seasons, Richard’s first change after coming to Dallas was to move safety Byron Jones to cornerback. At 6-0, 215 pounds, Jones has the size coveted by the former Legion of Boom coach.
This left the Cowboys with a void at one of their starting safety positions. On the current depth chart, Dallas has three players likely destined to make the active roster. Those safeties being Jeff Heath, Xavier Woods and Kavon Frazier.
Heath started 15 games last season, recording 71 combined tackles, five pass defends and a team-leading three interceptions. The fifth-year safety is expected to be a lock to start again this year after spending most of his career in Dallas as a special teams ace and backup.
Woods was a sixth round rookie in 2017, and mostly covered the slot. The 22-year is the favorite to start in place of Byron Jones. Woods recorded 42 total tackles, three pass defends and an interception starting in four of his first 16 games last season.
Midway through last season, Frazier began swapping out with Jones at safety every other series. A sixth round pick out of Central Michigan in 2016, the second-year defensive back was a much more physical presence in the secondary than Byron. Frazier figures to play a similar role this upcoming season in Dallas.
Despite the clear void at the safety position, the Cowboys refused to address it in either free agency or the NFL draft. That’s despite there being plenty of quality veterans available at the position currently on the open market and Dallas owning a whopping 10 picks going into April’s draft.
Could the simple fact be that the Cowboys undervalue the safety position? According to one former unnamed coach, if they do, Dallas would not be alone.
"“People think that you can find safeties anywhere,” one former defensive coordinator told Bucky Brooks according to NFL.com. “Listen to how people always talk about aging cornerbacks moving inside to safety when they lose their athleticism. Sure, some guys can do it, but there’s a lot more that goes into the position than some realize … You can’t just throw anybody in there and expect them to have success.”"
The Cowboys seemed willing to trade for Seahawks’ All-Pro safety Earl Thomas during the 2018 NFL Draft. But Dallas opted to draft Texas offensive tackle Connor Williams instead of offering their second round pick to Seattle for Thomas. Clearly, Dallas coveted securing their offensive line over securing their secondary. When the Cowboys tried to trade their third round pick for the six-time Pro Bowl safety instead, their call was not returned.
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If the Dallas Cowboys can somehow still pull off a trade for Earl Thomas this summer, they will have invested heavily at safety. But if they decide to simply field the players they have on their current roster, an argument can be made that America’s Team undervalues the position.