Things haven’t looked good on the defensive side of the ball for the Dallas Cowboys this season. It appears the presence of Micah Parsons had been covering some of the warts of the defense over the years and here in the post-Parsons era, those warts are getting harder and harder to overlook. Because of this, significant roster churn is expected following the 2025 season and two key spots held by longtime Cowboys veterans could very well be up for grabs.

Malik Hooker, 29, and Donovan Wilson, 30, have been the top safeties in Dallas for the better part of three years. Their ability to man single-high safety looks made the Cowboys defense a fairly formidable opponent throughout their tenure. Hooker, as the centerfielder, and Wilson, as the box man, kept the Cowboys well equipped to handle the zone demands of Cover 3 and the man defense of Cover 1. Yet, the rise of 2-deep coverage and the many zone concepts employed by Matt Eberflus has in many ways made the two safeties poor fits for the new defense in Dallas. And with both safeties approaching the ends of their respective deals, it might be time for a changing of the guard.

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Hooker, signed through 2026, will cost $9 million against the cap next season. At an increase of $1,500,000, it’s a high price to pay for a player who’s seemingly on the decline. Wilson’s deal voids after the season meaning it could be a clean break between him and the Cowboys. His current cap number falls just shy of $9 million this year making him an expensive piece given his notoriously inconsistent play.

Cowboys fans might already be getting a glimpse of what the future holds at the safety position these days.

The familiar faces of Markquese Bell, 26, and Juanyeh Thomas, 25, have been patrolling the depths of the Dallas secondary for quite some time. Toggling between linebacker and safety, Bell has held some big roles in coverage over the years and figures to play a bigger role in coming days, months and years.

For Thomas the day has already arrived. With Hooker on IR, Thomas posted 81 snaps in Week 5. It was a solid effort in both phases of the game and provided a good base to build on as Thomas prepares for future starts in Hooker’s place. Thomas’ contract runs through the 2025 season but in 2026 he’ll still theoretically be under team control as a restricted free agent. There’s an excellent chance he’ll be brought back for at least one more season given the circumstances.

Bell may have only logged eight snaps on Sunday, but it’s clear he’s a well-regarded player within the Cowboys organization. Playing on a three-year, $9 million contract that runs through 2027, Bell is an affordable option if and when the Cowboys decide to turn the page on their veterans.

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Paying for expensive veterans makes sense when those vets are providing stability to a unit that’s holding up its end of the bargain, but the Cowboys defense isn’t holding up their end of the bargain and currently ranks last in the NFL in yards allowed. A cost-cutting rebuild is likely in store for the secondary and with Hooker and Wilson combining for $16,400,000 in cap costs this year, the safety position is a good place to start.

Having Bell and Thomas under control for another year certainly helps things because they provide a sturdy floor to build on. With any luck free agency and draft can fill out the unit next offseason and situate the Cowboys well for 2026 and beyond.

For now, the Cowboys can get an early glimpse of what could soon be. More snaps for Bell and Thomas are likely in the cards and depending how they play, they could help usher a couple veterans in front of them out the door.