Cowboys 6th-round playoff hero on $1.6 million deal looks to prove useful to new staff
When the Dallas Cowboys drafted Israel Mukuamu in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL draft, they added a high character cover corner who played predominantly on the boundary. Boasting a 6-foot-4, 205-pound build, Mukuamu appeared the perfect profile for a standard Cover-3 cornerback. The only thing holding the South Carolina product back was his lackluster speed.
Regardless of those concerns the Cowboys liked him, seeing a player who was actually best away from the boundary. They rebranded Mukuamu as a safety and box player. Playing coverage roles from a variety of spots like strong safety and nickel CB, Mukuamu has been able to contribute a number of ways for Dallas in the secondary. It's there, in that multitool role, where he's offered the most value for the Cowboys defense.
Heading into the 2025 season the Cowboys face a number of question marks in their secondary. Jourdan Lewis, the longtime mainstay at nickel CB, is now off playing in the Sunshine State, while Trevon Diggs and rookie Shavel Revel work to come back from injury. The Cowboys are hoping Kaiir Elam can play some on the outside and could cycle DaRon Bland around spots, but new DC Matt Eberflus and passing game coordinator Andre Curtis are generally without a clear option at nickel CB.
The existence of Mukuamu helps raise the floor of what could happen at nickel early this season. Brought back on a one-year, $1.6 million deal this offseason, Mukuamu's play in the 2022 wild-card win over Tampa Bay when he allowed just two receptions for 16 yards on five attempts let's Dallas know he's capable of performing out of the slot if asked.
If all else fails, the Cowboys know they have a solid option in Mukuamu to come in and hold things down. Being a top special teams player, Mukuamu is sure to be active on game day. And with his position flex at safety, he fills more than one emergency role on the roster.
Mukuamu has been a valuable player for the Cowboys defense and has stuck on the roster through three different defensive coordinators for a reason.
You can follow Reid on X @ReidDHanson and be sure to follow Cowboys Wire on Facebook to join in on the conversation with fellow fans!
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