Cowboys have a good problem on their hands with the emergence of late-round pick
When the Cowboys drafted versatile defensive back Israel Mukuamu in the sixth round in 2021 the intention was to play him safety. Unfortunately, Mukuamu didn't get to show much of what he could do seeing as he was inactive for 12 games, and only logged 20 defensive snaps in the four games he did appear […]
When the Cowboys drafted versatile defensive back Israel Mukuamu in the sixth round in 2021 the intention was to play him safety. Unfortunately, Mukuamu didn't get to show much of what he could do seeing as he was inactive for 12 games, and only logged 20 defensive snaps in the four games he did appear in.
Fast forward to this summer, Mukuamu has been entrenched in a battle for one of the final two roster spots at safety for the Cowboys with undrafted free agents Markquese Bell and Tyler Coyle. In the Cowboys' second preseason game against the Los Angeles Chargers last Saturday, the former South Carolina Gamecock took full advantage of his opportunity to showcase his skills.
On the Chargers' first possession, Mukuamu showed his willingness to be physical against the run on the initial play of the drive. However, Mukuamu gave the ball back to the Cowboys after doing a great job of staying on top of a vertical route down the seam and then redirecting to the sideline on an over route to haul in an interception.
That type of heady play is the exact type of growth a team wants to see from a young player during the preseason and that wasn't lost on head coach Mike McCarthy.
"He’s just made a huge leap from year one to year two," McCarthy said. "I’m just so happy to see him have the success. I thought he had some pretty impactful plays today and he’s just getting better each and every opportunity."
Mukuamu continued his excellent play throughout the game with more support against the run as he maneuvered down in the box and his range in coverage. Mukuamu set Sofi Stadium on fire after he laid out Chargers receiver Jason Moore near the sideline to break up a sure completion. In all, Mukuamu finished with four tackles, two passes defended, and an interception in the Cowboys' 32-18 victory.
The play of Mukuamu in the preseason has been a continuation of how he's performed during training camp. His emergence has created a good problem for the Cowboys and that's having a plethora of quality players at one position. The aforementioned Bell looked like a lock for the fourth safety spot but Mukuamu has made that a healthy debate. Both will make the roster, and this competition should fuel some good play in the Cowboys' final preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks on Friday.
Mukuamu's rise up the depth chart also puts fourth-year safety Donovan Wilson on notice. The former Texas A&M Aggie had enough to deal with when Bell showed that he was a reliable option at safety for the Cowboys. This plus Wilson's injury history should spark him to play his best this season and provide much-needed depth at safety behind starters Jayron Kearse and Malik Hooker.
Feature image via Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
