3 Cowboys who aren't safe with Mike Zimmer as defensive coordinator

The Dallas Cowboys are working towards hiring Mike Zimmer as their defensive coordinator. Zimmer hasn't officially signed a contract, but he's the Cowboys pick among the candidates they interviewed so an agreement should be reached before long.

Zimmer beat out Cowboys defensive line coach Aden Durde, who has since been hired as the Seahawks defensive coordinator in a surprising move, as well as ex-Commanders coach Ron Rivera and Jets safeties coach Marquand Manuel.

Zimmer will bring a refreshing change to Dallas' defense. Not only is he more adaptable than his predecessor Dan Quinn, but he's shown a willigness to adapt. That could make all the difference, as Quinn was notoriously stubborn in terms of sticking to his guns, including against the vaunted Kyle Shanahan coaching tree.

As far as the Cowboys roster is concerned, multiple players will benefit from Zimmer's arrival. Conversely, let's play devil's advocate and underline some Cowboys who are officially on the hot seat with Zimmer as the DC.

3. CB Eric Scott Jr.

Our friends over at The Viking Age gave us great insight into Zimmer's coaching history. Essentially, the ex-Vikings coach doesn't love young players.

That doesn't mean he won't play first- and second-year players, but it took former cornerback Trae Waynes three years to crack the starting lineup as a former first-round pick. Waynes didn't start more than eight games until his third season. That is absolutely mind-boggling and it doesn't bode well for Eric Scott Jr.

Dan Quinn's departure served as an unfriendly reminder that the Cowboys traded a 2024 fifth-round pick to draft Scott in the sixth round last April. Many draft prognosticators had Scott going undrafted, but Quinn liked Scott's physical intangibles. Quinn had a major influence in Scott's selection.

Despite the aggressive trade-up, Scott didn't play a single snap as a rookie. Worse than that is he wasn't active for a single game. Unlike fourth-round pick Viliami Fehoko, Scott was healthy all season.

Veterans Stephon Gilmore and Jourdan Lewis are free agents, but Scott is still behind Trevon Diggs, DaRon Bland and Nahshon Wright in the pecking order. That doesn't even account for Gilmore potentially re-signing or the Cowboys using a high draft pick on a corner.

Scott could make a strong impression on Zimmer, but his odd disappearing act this season and Zimmer's track record with young players are a bad omen for the 25-year-old corner.