The Dallas Cowboys added depth to their secondary this week. Dallas reached an agreement with a former Denver Broncos defender. The move reunites the veteran safety with Cowboys defensive coordinator Christian Parker.
Cowboys Reunite P.J. Locke With DC Christian Parker
NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported that Dallas signed P.J. Locke to a one-year contract worth $5 million. Locke is 29 years old and now joins a Cowboys defense that is looking to legitimize its secondary.
The connection with Parker played a role in the signing. Parker previously served as defensive backs coach for the Broncos before joining the Eagles. Locke spent several seasons working under Parker in Denver.
Locke entered the NFL in 2019 as an undrafted free agent out of Texas. He first signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers but did not make the team’s 53-man roster. Denver added him to its practice squad later that year. He developed into a reliable contributor during his time with the Broncos. Locke initially carved out a role on special teams from 2020 through 2022.
His opportunity expanded in 2023. Locke stepped in as an eight-game fill-in starter and showed he could handle a larger role in the secondary. He followed that season by starting 15 games in 2024 and was considered a key contributor. Locke started three games last season while filling in for injured safety Brandon Jones.
Across six seasons, he has played 90 games in Denver. Schultz noted, “Locke has been a key contributor in Denver since 2019 — amassing 174 tackles, 4 sacks, 5 forced fumbles, 11 pass deflections and 2 INTs.”
How P.J. Locke Fits Dallas’s Defensive Rebuild
While Locke has not produced many interceptions, he has built a reputation as a versatile defensive back. Coaches have used him in multiple roles across the secondary during his career. That versatility should make him a useful piece in Parker’s system. Dallas is beginning a defensive reset after finishing last in PFSN’s Defense Impact Metric last season.
The Cowboys dismissed former defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus and hired Parker to reshape the unit. Parker most recently worked with the Eagles as passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach under Vic Fangio. Philadelphia finished seventh in PFSN’s Defense Impact Metric and produced one of the league’s better secondaries last season.
Dallas hopes Parker can bring that same secondary development to its roster. Adding experienced defensive backs such as Locke should improve the defensive backs room while Parker installs his system.
With two first-round picks in the upcoming draft and a new defensive architect in place, Dallas still has several paths to strengthen its defense before the season begins.
