P.j. Locke

Career StatsD-

Year	Team	GP	INT	PD	Tkl
Career		90	1	11	174
2025		16	0	3	16
2024		15	0	2	74
2023		12

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

The Cowboys locked up a serviceable depth piece at a reasonable price, earning a C+ CVI that reflects solid value for a rotational safety. At $4.0M AAV, Dallas is paying appropriate market rate for Locke's production tier, which slots him as a reliable backup who can step into starting duties without major dropoff. The one-year structure with $3.5M guaranteed minimizes long-term risk while giving the Cowboys flexibility to reassess their secondary needs next offseason. For a rotational player who's proven he can contribute in multiple defensive packages, this deal strikes the right balance between securing depth and maintaining roster flexibility. This signing won't move the needle dramatically, but it's the type of smart, under-the-radar move that helps teams maintain defensive consistency when injuries inevitably strike.

Performance Analysis

P.J. Locke is a six-year veteran safety who has carved out a roster spot in Dallas as a core special-teamer and rotational defensive back. His overall grade sits at a D-, reflecting a troubling downward arc across recent seasons. Among starting-caliber safeties, Locke currently profiles as a depth piece rather than a reliable contributor. The numbers tell a difficult story at both key metrics. His tackles-per-game rate of 1.00 falls well below the NFL average of 3.85, a gap that signals limited range or snap count — likely both. His pass breakups per game sit at 0.19 against an NFL average of 0.30, and nowhere near the elite threshold of 0.60, suggesting he rarely disrupts the passing game when on the field. His season grades have declined steadily — from a C- in 2023 to a D+ in 2024 to an F in 2025 — a trajectory that raises legitimate questions about his long-term viability as even a depth safety. At 29, with six seasons logged, Locke is entering the phase where role players either find a niche or fall off rosters entirely. The Cowboys will likely need to evaluate whether his special teams value alone justifies a roster spot heading into next season.

Current Sentiment

P.J. Locke enters the 2026 season with a quietly optimistic media narrative after agreeing to terms with the Dallas Cowboys in free agency, a move framed largely as a chance for him to compete for a starting role. The coverage surrounding his signing is notably player-centric and positive, with Locke himself publicly articulating his motivations, which signals both confidence and buy-in from the organization. His reunion with defensive coordinator Christian Parker adds a layer of schematic familiarity that analysts have highlighted as a genuine competitive advantage heading into training camp. While Locke remains a depth and rotational profile player by traditional metrics — modest career interception totals and a mid-tier contract — the tone of his offseason coverage reflects a player trending upward rather than one fighting for roster survival. Fan and media perception is cautiously favorable, with the prevailing narrative positioning him as a motivated veteran with a legitimate path to meaningful snaps in Dallas's secondary.