The Cowboys may have found a bargain that pays off in more ways than one.
Jerry Jones signed P.J. Locke to a one-year, $3.5 million deal in March, and the veteran safety is already giving Dallas value that goes beyond his own snaps. He’s become a built-in guide for Caleb Downs, the former Ohio State standout who arrives with sky-high expectations but is still a rookie trying to settle into the NFL.
Locke said on the Blueprint Podcast that he and Downs now get together after every practice for extra work.
"... And after practice, like I always do extra, so I took a couple guys in, and he wasn't with me at first," Locke said.
"And then he kind of came and kind of started being around a little bit, and I was like, 'Come on, man. Let's do it.'
Now, every single day, every day after practice, we finding each other, and it's to the point now where if I start without him, it is like, 'Damn, bro, you gonna start without me?' I said, 'My fault, bro.'"
That kind of daily routine is exactly what Dallas needs around a young defender like Downs. He may already look and carry himself like a veteran, but the Cowboys still need someone who can help him handle the grind that comes with the league. Locke has stepped into that role naturally, and he was doing extra offseason work with teammates before Downs even joined in.
"He sees it," Locked added of Downs. "They are going to look for him a lot.
I just want to be there for him, just to take him through that mental roller coaster. That mental roller coaster is going to hit at some point.
It always does. I just want to make sure I am here for him to guide him through it.
I went through it the worst way.”
Dallas does have other experienced defensive backs in the room, including Jalen Thompson, DaRon Bland, Malik Hooker, and Cobie Durant. But Locke stands out as the best fit to mentor Downs.
That starts with familiarity. Locke already knows Christian Parker’s system from their time together in Denver, and Parker’s defense is expected to carry a heavy Vic Fangio influence. Fangio was also the Broncos’ head coach during Locke’s first two seasons in the league.
There’s also a football fit here. Downs is expected to move around the formation for Parker, with most of his work likely coming in the nickel.
Locke has spent his career in a similarly flexible role, even if he wasn’t a full-time starter in Denver. According to Pro Football Focus, he logged 1,054 snaps as a free safety, 503 as a box safety, and 109 snaps in the nickel.
So while Downs brings the higher-profile name, Locke brings the kind of versatility and experience that can make the transition smoother.
And he’s backed that up on the field, too. During spring practices, Locke stood out by breaking up multiple Dak Prescott passes against the starting offense.
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