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.
Izzy is stayin' in Dallas ⭐️
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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.
This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Cowboys agree to terms with DB Israel Mukuamu in free agency
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