The Dallas Cowboys have made sure to improve the defensive side of the ball this offseason. It started with the hiring of Christian Parker to be the defensive coordinator, and the personnel additions that followed only strengthened the unit.
This offseason alone, the Cowboys added Caleb Downs, Jalen Thompson, and P.J. Locke to their safety room. But there's another addition that Dallas should consider making to the room: Ronnie Hickman of the Cleveland Browns.
A former undrafted free agent, Hickman has been in Cleveland for the last three years, but he didn't break out until 2025.
Across 17 starts, he finished with 103 total tackles, seven pass breakups, and two interceptions. Not only were his stats solid, but his advanced numbers on Pro Football Focus backed it up, as he logged a 71.6 overall grade (21st among safeties) and a 75.3 coverage grade (11th among safeties).
Dallas Cowboys should explore trading for Browns safety Ronnie Hickman
Even though the Cowboys already added multiple safeties, there could be room for Hickman. Downs is going to be the primary slot defender, and Thompson has the flexibility to play both free and strong safety. That's the same case with Hickman, which would give them safety's interchangeable options on the backend.
Malik Hooker is still on the roster, but he's coming off an underwhelming season, finishing with a 61.0 overall grade on PFF (66th among safeties) and a 51.8 coverage grade (75th among safeties). He also allowed 15 catches on 16 targets for 295 yards and two touchdowns.
While Hooker is a veteran that Parker could use, the idea of adding Hickman would give him another chess piece. Hickman would be extremely motivated as well, since he's playing on a one-year restricted tender. He's looking to get paid and would make sure he puts his best foot forward.
It's also important to note that Hickman is only 24 years old and could be a long-term piece in the secondary going forward. Parker was a defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator before taking this DC job, so he knows how to get the best from DBs.
Parker could help Hickman reach another level, and at the same time, it would provide Dallas with another dynamic DB for their defense. Finding ways to improve this defense should still be a priority, and Hickman could help achieve that at a low price.
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