The Dallas Cowboys will hold competition for the starting strong safety job, but Barry Church is all but guaranteed to start at free safety again.
The Dallas Cowboys struggled with their pass defense last season, and they will hold an open competition for the starting strong safety job.
Barry Church’s starting free safety job is all but secure. Church led the team with 135 tackles even though he had very little starting experience prior to 2013.
J.J. Wilcox is expected to be the frontrunner for the strong safety job as he battles with Jeff Heath for the job. Heath adds value on special teams, notching 13 for the unit last season. Jakar Hamilton is also in the mix for playing time at safety.
Ahmad Dixon and Matt Johnson are expected to make the roster as well. Dixon is a seventh-round rookie out of Baylor who hits really well but needs to improve on coverage.
Johnson has failed to stay healthy throughout his career, but he logged 17 interceptions in his college career, so he offers upside that may be enough to convince the Cowboys to keep him around.
The safety position still has holes in Dallas, and they chose to pass on HaHa Clinton-Dix and Calvin Pryor in the draft. Unless Wilcox can step up, Jerry Jones will continue to receive the wrath of Cowboys fans.
The Cowboys will likely carry five or six safeties on the roster, but Church is the only one who is reliable.
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