Each year, it's an overused phrase that fans grow tired of. "A new era" is one of those things we can read and eventually just stop believing it because of how often it's said. However, for the Dallas Cowboys, that's precisely what they've entered into.
Going from Matt Eberflus to Christian Parker is the literal definition of a new era. Cowboys fans know it well already just from how Parker has handled his first offseason in Dallas. Fans sense the difference, and it's a strong one.
One of the new additions on that defense, to go along with Dallas' new coordinator, happens to be the perfect archetype to have added. Former Denver Broncos safety P.J. Locke came to Dallas not necessarily knowing if he'd be a starter, but the Cowboys knew they needed him for the type of impact he could make in multiple areas.
Now, entering his first training camp with the Cowboys, Locke's versatility, leadership and work ethic are something fans would love to see rub off on the younger guys.
P.J. Locke will mean more than what Dallas Cowboys fans might think on the surface
I recently sat down to chat with Broncos expert Sayre Bedinger of Predominantly Orange and the "Locked On Broncos" podcast. I asked him to shed some light on what Locke could mean to this team. After Locke initially came to Dallas, Bedinger was kind enough to offer his thoughts.
Now, as fans get amped for training camp, we asked Bedinger for just a little more, since it's now all but certain that Locke will be a backup. We're months out from him originally signing, and Locke now likely knows he isn't going to be a starter, but his impact will still be felt from here on out.
One of the first points Bedinger made was to call out how Locke is able to perform when called upon on a moment's notice.
"He came in ice-cold late last season in relief of the injured Brandon Jones, and he picked off Josh Allen in the Broncos' Divisional Round win over the Bills," Bedinger noted. "He's been around for such a long time and worked his way up from the practice squad under Vic Fangio, who is notoriously hard to impress."
There's a lot to unpack here. But knowing that Locke came off the bench in a crucial playoff game and picked off one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL? Yeah, that's a solid start for Cowboys fans who still may not know as much about the new guy.
The other aspect of this, though, is the fact that Locke was able to go from being a practice squad player to a reliable reserve underneath Fangio. We know, these days, that Fangio is one of the very best and most-respected defensive coordinators the game has had to offer over the years.
Locke had his come-up happen the tough way. And look at him now, going into Year 7 in the league.
For the Cowboys, who, again, probably won't place Locke in a starting role with Jalen Thompson and Malik Hooker manning those spots, Locke offers incredible value as a reserve.
"He's got great toughness and ball skills, and he's going to immediately upgrade the special teams unit as well."
If you were to ask most Cowboys fans about the defense in 2025, I would reckon very few would describe the group as one that displayed "toughness," and that's a direct indictment of Eberflus.
The Cowboys are sitting on a depth piece who gives them toughness, ball skills and someone who can instantly make their special teams unit better. I'd call that a home run signing, which feels a bit awkward considering he's not a Kyle Hamilton or Xavier McKinney.
Still, Locke is going to play an invaluable part in the shadows, and that matters.
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