The Dallas Cowboys’ secondary has been a glaring weak spot heading into the 2025 NFL season, ravaged by injuries that have left the unit depleted. However, this adversity has opened doors for unheralded players to step up and seize their moment. One such player is undrafted free agent safety Alijah Clark, a Syracuse product who is quickly making a name for himself in Dallas.
Clark, who signed with the Cowboys following the 2025 NFL Draft, has been a standout since rookie minicamp. His strong performance carried over into Organized Team Activities (OTAs), where an injury to veteran safety Malik Hooker during Tuesday’s session gave Clark a golden opportunity. He capitalized, earning reps with the first-team defense alongside Juanyeh Thomas. As Tommy Yarrish of DallasCowboys.com noted on X, “With Hooker out, UDFA safeties Alijah Clark and Mike Smith got some run with the first team alongside Juanyeh Thomas. Israel Mukuamu played some outside corner with Andrew Booth absent.”
The Cowboys’ confidence in Clark was evident before he even stepped on the field. The team made him their highest-paid undrafted free agent, awarding him a $25,000 signing bonus and a guaranteed salary of $234,000—a bold investment for an unproven player. Clark’s athletic profile supports the gamble. At the NFL Combine, he clocked a 4.5-second 40-yard dash, showcasing the speed needed to compete at the professional level. His college career at Syracuse further bolsters his case, with 189 tackles, 12 tackles for a loss, two interceptions, nine passes defensed, two fumble recoveries, and one forced fumble over his tenure.
With the Cowboys’ mandatory minicamp set to begin on Tuesday, June 10, all eyes will be on Clark to see if he can sustain his momentum. The coaching staff’s willingness to give him first-team reps suggests they see significant potential in the young safety. If Clark continues to impress, he could carve out a meaningful role in a thin secondary, proving that Jerry Jones’ under-the-radar investment was a calculated and potentially game-changing move.