Cowboys insider expects stark scenario for DB Israel Mukuamu ahead of crucial 2024 training camp
Israel Mukuamu was once perceived as a potential steal from the Dallas Cowboys when they picked him in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft out of South Carolina.As a rookie, he had some highlights in the preseason and training camp doing a little bit of everything as the Cowboys coaching staff tried to […]
Israel Mukuamu was once perceived as a potential steal from the Dallas Cowboys when they picked him in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft out of South Carolina.
As a rookie, he had some highlights in the preseason and training camp doing a little bit of everything as the Cowboys coaching staff tried to figure out where the versatile defensive back fit the best.
Fast forward to 2024, Mukuamu's first contract year of his career, and the Cowboys have seemingly failed to ever land on a specific position. You see, Mukuamu was once considered a safety then thrived at nickel cornerback in a playoff game against Tom Brady yet right now he appears to be at safety once again.
Personally, I believe the Cowboys should've picked a position for him earlier in his career to enable him to develop properly. But even now, it's unclear which position he's expected to play the upcoming season. It's clear that if he has to do it at safety, he has an uphill battle as Juanyeh Thomas and Markquese Bell have established themselves on this defense and are the likeliest backups to Malik Hooker and Donovan Wilson.
At cornerback, you could say the battle to stick around as depth is more open yet Mukuamu didn't get the reps with the first and second team that others did, according to DallasCowboys.com's Nick Harris, who wrote the following on a mailbag earlier this week, who expects this to be a "prove-it type training camp and preseason" for Izzy:
Israel Mukuamu didn't get any significant burn last season and he was working almost exclusively with the reserve defense when the team split during OTAs and minicamp earlier this month. For context, guys like Juanyeh Thomas, Markquese Bell and even rookie Caelen Carson were all getting some run with the first team on the other side of the field. This is lining up to be a prove-it type training camp and preseason for Mukuamu to show that he can play a valuable role on defense outside of his special teams responsibilities.
Longtime columnist Mickey Spagnola doubled down on that sentiment writing that "He's going to have to have an impressive training camp, including on special teams in the preseason games I'd think just to make the team."
Per Pro Football Reference, Mukuamu played the fifth-most snaps on special teams in 2023 but it's true that the Cowboys have many young players who can step into that role so it might not be enough for him to guarantee himself a 53-man roster spot.
In my view, Mukuamu should be one of the biggest stories in training camp because we've seen what he can bring to the table. He's a good football player who deserves a shot.
He won't make this an easy decision for the coaching staff as he gives his everything to make the team. His best path to the roster is likely playing at corner but we'll see what Mike Zimmer thinks when training camp kicks off.
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