The Dallas Cowboys enter the 2026 season with a revamped defense under new coordinator Christian Parker, and it is safe to say that this unit will fare better than the 2025 version of the Cowboys D. That’s because it was a very low bar–last year’s Cowboys were rated as the worst defense in the NFL by some measures, most notably points allowed (511). The change is most obvious in the safety room, where the only returning players are Malik Hooker and Markquese Bell.
The Cowboys added their most expensive free agent in more than a decade when they signed Jalen Thompson at safety, and also brought in PJ Locke, who had worked with Parker when he was coaching the secondary in Denver. They also used the No. 11 pick in the draft on a safety–potential star Caleb Downs.
Cowboys Held Out Markquese Bell
Considering that last year’s Cowboys safety grouping included Donovan Wilson, who was ranked No. 88 out of 98 safeties by Pro Football Focus, and the oft-injured Juanyeh Thomas, it’s hard to overstate just how vastly improved the current group figures to be. That’s why, coming out of training camp and heading into the preseason slate, it appeared that one player who might be in trouble in terms of making the final 53-man roster was Bell.
But then, when Saturday’s game against the Cardinals came around, Bell was a healthy scratch. The Cowboys have, generally, not played veterans when they expect them to make the final roster, in order to avoid injuries.
Zach Wolchuk of 105.3 The Fan in Dallas wrote on Twitter/X: “Intersting note Markquese Bell is not playing tonight. Seems like he is safe. Cowboys will have some tough decisions to make in that safety room.”
Markquese Bell Arrested in April
Bell did appear to be in some trouble with the Cowboys, at least in terms of his roster spot, because the team invested so heavily in the safety room, and because he was arrested in Prosper, Texas, back in April.
As ESPN.com noted about the incident: “Dallas Cowboys safety Markquese Bell has been arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance and marijuana, according to Collin County jail records. The arrest was made Friday by Prosper (Texas) police. The possession of a controlled substance is a felony, while the marijuana possession is Class B misdemeanor.”
Cowboys Likely to Keep 5 Safeties?
But the charges have not dislodged Bell from the Cowboys at this point. He’s been a well-liked presence on the team since he arrived as an undrafted free agent from Florida A&M in 2022. He was always more of a hybrid safety than a pure defensive back, and that came in handy in 2023, when he filled in at linebacker following the neck injury suffered by Leighton Vander Esch.
Bell was praised for his willingness and ability to step into a new role. Now, with parker deploying a more unorthodox scheme, Bell might be in position to have a bigger impact.
In sussing out his 53-man roster projection, Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News has Bell on the Cowboys, who may keep five safeties.
Wrote Watkins: “Bell has done a nice job with his physicality in training camp. Downs has position flexibility by playing the slot. Locke is another player with special teams abilities, as he’s also gotten work as the personal protector.
Cowboys Hint at Decision on Veteran Despite Arrest