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No NFL team values the safety position less than the Dallas Cowboys
By Jon Machota , Staff Writer Contact Jon Machotaon Twitter
jonmachota
Over the last six years, no NFL team has valued the safety position less than the Dallas Cowboys.
Executive vice president Stephen Jones acknowledged before the draft that safety had the least amount of resources of any position on their team.
Since the 2013 draft, 75 percent of NFL teams have picked at least one safety in the first or second round. The Cowboys are one of eight that have not.
Here's what those other seven teams have done at the position.
Vikings: Drafted Harrison Smith in the first round in 2012. He has made the last four Pro Bowls.
Bills: Signed Micah Hyde in 2017 to a five-year, $30.5 million deal. They also had three-time Pro Bowler Jairus Byrd from 2009 to 2013.
Panthers: Signed Eric Reid in February to a three-year, $22 million contract.
Bears: Signed Pro Bowler Ha Ha Clinton-Dix to a one-year, $3 million deal in March. They already have Eddie Jackson (six interceptions last season), a 2018 Pro Bowler, on the roster. He was a fourth-round pick in 2017.
Broncos: Signed Pro Bowler T.J. Ward to a four-year, $23 million contract in 2014. They spent a third-round pick in 2016 on Justin Simmons.
Lions: Signed Pro Bowler Glover Quin to a five-year, $23.5 million deal in 2013 and then a two-year, $13 million extension in 2017. They also drafted Tracy Walker in the third round in 2018.
Eagles: Signed Pro Bowler Malcolm Jenkins to a three-year, $15.5 million contract in 2014. They then signed him to a four-year, $35 million extension in 2016. Signed Rodney McLeod to a five-year, $35 million deal in 2016. Signed Walter Thurmond to a one-year, $3.25 million contract in 2015.
The last time the Cowboys spent a first or second round pick on a safety was Roy Williams in 2002. Their most recent significant spending on the position was re-signing Gerald Sensabaugh for six years, $25 million in 2011.
The Cowboys currently have a safety depth chart that consists of Xavier Woods (sixth-round pick), Jeff Heath (undrafted free agent), George Iloka (one year, $1 million signing), Kavon Frazier (sixth round pick), Donovan Wilson (sixth round pick) and Darian Thompson (one year, $720,000 signing).
During last weekend's draft, three top safeties in this year's class -- Nasir Adderley, Taylor Rapp and Juan Thornhill -- were on the board when Dallas went on the clock with its first pick, No. 58 overall. The decision came down to Thornhill and UCF defensive tackle Trysten Hill.
The Cowboys chose Hill. Adderley, Rapp and Thornhill were all off the board within the next five picks.
"We felt better than people from the outside looking in feel about our safety position," Jones said after the draft. "I've mentioned time and time again that we don't have as much resources allocated to that position, and it is probably not by accident. We certainly look at that, and if you can find a difference maker, then you do it. I think we feel good about the group that we had coming in here.
"At some point, you know player acquisition is 365 days a year, if we see a situation to improve anything, then we will do it. At the same time, we like what we have at safety."
By Jon Machota , Staff Writer Contact Jon Machotaon Twitter
jonmachotaOver the last six years, no NFL team has valued the safety position less than the Dallas Cowboys.
Executive vice president Stephen Jones acknowledged before the draft that safety had the least amount of resources of any position on their team.
Since the 2013 draft, 75 percent of NFL teams have picked at least one safety in the first or second round. The Cowboys are one of eight that have not.
Here's what those other seven teams have done at the position.
Vikings: Drafted Harrison Smith in the first round in 2012. He has made the last four Pro Bowls.
Bills: Signed Micah Hyde in 2017 to a five-year, $30.5 million deal. They also had three-time Pro Bowler Jairus Byrd from 2009 to 2013.
Panthers: Signed Eric Reid in February to a three-year, $22 million contract.
Bears: Signed Pro Bowler Ha Ha Clinton-Dix to a one-year, $3 million deal in March. They already have Eddie Jackson (six interceptions last season), a 2018 Pro Bowler, on the roster. He was a fourth-round pick in 2017.
Broncos: Signed Pro Bowler T.J. Ward to a four-year, $23 million contract in 2014. They spent a third-round pick in 2016 on Justin Simmons.
Lions: Signed Pro Bowler Glover Quin to a five-year, $23.5 million deal in 2013 and then a two-year, $13 million extension in 2017. They also drafted Tracy Walker in the third round in 2018.
Eagles: Signed Pro Bowler Malcolm Jenkins to a three-year, $15.5 million contract in 2014. They then signed him to a four-year, $35 million extension in 2016. Signed Rodney McLeod to a five-year, $35 million deal in 2016. Signed Walter Thurmond to a one-year, $3.25 million contract in 2015.
The last time the Cowboys spent a first or second round pick on a safety was Roy Williams in 2002. Their most recent significant spending on the position was re-signing Gerald Sensabaugh for six years, $25 million in 2011.
The Cowboys currently have a safety depth chart that consists of Xavier Woods (sixth-round pick), Jeff Heath (undrafted free agent), George Iloka (one year, $1 million signing), Kavon Frazier (sixth round pick), Donovan Wilson (sixth round pick) and Darian Thompson (one year, $720,000 signing).
During last weekend's draft, three top safeties in this year's class -- Nasir Adderley, Taylor Rapp and Juan Thornhill -- were on the board when Dallas went on the clock with its first pick, No. 58 overall. The decision came down to Thornhill and UCF defensive tackle Trysten Hill.
The Cowboys chose Hill. Adderley, Rapp and Thornhill were all off the board within the next five picks.
"We felt better than people from the outside looking in feel about our safety position," Jones said after the draft. "I've mentioned time and time again that we don't have as much resources allocated to that position, and it is probably not by accident. We certainly look at that, and if you can find a difference maker, then you do it. I think we feel good about the group that we had coming in here.
"At some point, you know player acquisition is 365 days a year, if we see a situation to improve anything, then we will do it. At the same time, we like what we have at safety."
