As the Dallas Cowboys pivot toward the 2026 NFL Draft, the front office is forced to confront a secondary that has become increasingly synonymous with the big plays, but unfortunately, for the wrong team. Last year, the Cowboys’ safety rotation struggled with inconsistent communication and failed to prevent explosive plays, often leaving the defense exposed at the worst possible moments.
The need for a reliable contributor in the secondary has moved from a luxury to a necessity. Donovan Wilson is an unrestricted free agent, and backups like Markquese Bell and Alijah Clark have not proven themselves to be reinforcements they can hang their hats on. Malik Hooker is still around, but he’s really the only solid safety the Cowboys have. With the current roster lacking reliable coverage and dependable open-field tacklers, the Cowboys could turn to the collegiate ranks for players capable of restoring order to a unit that too often looked out of sync.
The search for new defenders took center stage during the recent 2026 East-West Shrine Bowl in Frisco, where the Cowboys’ staff had a front-row seat to the next generation of secondary talent. Among the standout performers was Arizona’s Dalton Johnson, a hard-hitting safety whose stock has surged following a week of dominant practices and a productive game performance. For a Dallas team desperate to upgrade its secondary and eliminate the catastrophic lapses of 2025, Johnson’s emergence could be an intriguing prospect in helping rebuild the last line of defense.
Johnson arrived at the East-West Shrine Bowl as one of the most consistent and hard-hitting defensive backs in the Big 12. During his tenure at Arizona, he established himself as a relentless force in the secondary, leading the Wildcats in tackles for two consecutive seasons. His senior campaign was particularly prolific, as he racked up 97 total tackles and snagged four interceptions, earning First-Team All-Big 12 honors. Known for his “hair-on-fire” playing style, Johnson became a fan favorite in Tucson for his ability to bridge the gap between a coverage safety and an extra linebacker in the box, providing a veteran presence that helped anchor one of the most improved defenses in the conference.
In Frisco, Johnson’s collegiate production translated seamlessly to his pre-pro audition. He recorded five tackles in the West’s 21-17 victory. His consistent ability to finish plays in the open field turned heads, making him one of the top prospects who stood out during the game. Throughout the practice week, scouts praised Johnson for his instincts, range, and toughness. Despite being slightly undersized for a pro safety at 5’11” and 198 pounds, he has exceptional ball skills and is a reliable tackler. His fluidity in deeper zone alignments and his ability to read the quarterback’s eyes proved that he could effectively play both single-high and half-field safety roles. He fits the bill as the type of player that new defensive coordinator Christian Parker looks for. Johnson maintained his reputation as a downhill safety who flows quickly to the ball and isn’t afraid to take aggressive angles to neutralize ball carriers in run support. Cautious, but a selective smotherer. This is an attribute we should get used to, especially with the recent addition of new cornerbacks coach Ryan Smith.
For the Cowboys’ secondary that spent much of last year lost in space, practicing social distancing, Johnson offers some hope. The secondary as a whole struggled significantly with explosive plays, contributing to a defense that allowed a league-worst 4,276 passing yards last season. While last year’s group went from the “last line of defense” to more of a “front row seat to a touchdown,” Johnson’s downhill aggressiveness and reliable open-field tackling could offer up some improvement. His ability to read the quarterback’s eyes could help stabilize a unit that frequently bit on play-action, offering the Cowboys a versatile, disciplined playmaker capable of cleaning up the mistakes that turned 10-yard gains into 40-yard nightmares last season.
Johnson is projected to be a Day 3 pick, so this should be viewed more as a depth piece than some Darren Woodson-like safety savior. But regardless, the Cowboys need to find those pieces. Donovan Wilson and Xavier Woods were quality sixth-round safety finds for them over the years, and Johnson could provide something similar, which is a nice depth piece who offers starting-caliber upside.