Latest news with #Mukuamu
USA Today
27-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Cowboys 6th-round playoff hero on $1.6 million deal looks to prove useful to new staff
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!
USA Today
14-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Free Agency: Cowboys bringing back versatile DB, key special teams player on 1-year deal
Free Agency: Cowboys bringing back versatile DB, key special teams player on 1-year deal The Cowboys continue to bring back many of their most solid contributors in free agency. The signing they made late Thursday should help both the defense and the special teams by keeping a versatile piece on both units. Dallas has agreed to re-sign defensive back Israel Mukuamu to a one-year deal, the team announced. The 2021 sixth-round draft pick out of South Carolina has made 53 game appearances including playoffs, playing both cornerback and safety as needed during his Cowboys career. The former Gamecock appeared in all 17 of Dallas's games in 2024 and has played in at least 14 contests in each of the last three years, proving himself to be a reliable depth piece. Though he recorded only two interceptions last season, they came on just 200 defensive snaps and were enough to tie Mukuamu for the team lead in picks. And his 19 tackles represented the most productive year yet of his pro tenure. Mukuamu arguably made even more of an impact, though, on special teams, where he was in on 71% of the unit's snaps, trailing only C.J. Goodwin for playing time. The Cowboys find themselves looking thin at cornerback, with Jourdan Lewis gone and Trevon Diggs working his way back to the field after January knee surgery. DaRon Bland will return, as will second-year man Caelen Carson. Dallas traded for veteran and former first-round draft pick Kaiir Elam earlier in the week, but it's not unreasonable to think that the 6-foot-4-incher could see more opportunities at the corner position heading into 2025. At his listed safety position, Mukuamu is on the same depth chart as Donovan Wilson, Malik Hooker, Juanyeh Thomas, and Markquese Bell, so his ability to play any spot in the secondary will only help his chances of seeing the field. Terms of Mukuamu's one-year deal were not immediately made public.
