Football
Football’s a tough business, where a guy can go from having one of the best plays of the year to not even making the team the following season. That’s a fate safety Alijah Clark, the next player in our Dallas Cowboys roster rundown series, hopes to avoid in 2026.
Background
Years in NFL: 1
Acquired by: UDFA (2025)
One of Dallas’ undrafted free agents last year, Clark had a strong camp and made a case for the bottom of the roster with both safety and nickel corner appeal. However, he was ultimately waived at final cuts and added to the practice squad. About a month later, Clark was signed to the roster and played in 11 games, even starting one during an injury-riddled Week 8 in Denver. Outside of the Broncos game, nearly all of Clark’s playing time came on special teams.
It was in punt coverage that Clark made one of the Cowboys’ best plays of 2025, and in a huge comeback win over the Eagles. From the gunner position, Clark got bullied down the field by the Philadelphia blocker. But despite stumbling and even hitting the ground, Clark kept fighting his way back up and towards the ball. He finally got there and delivered a hard hit to Eagles’ WR Xavier Gipson, knocking the ball loose for a Cowboys fumble recovery. Clark earned national praise for his relentless hustle on the play.
Contract Status
Years Left: 1
2026 Cap Hit: $1 million
Clark returns as a roster spot competitor with a year left on his minimal contract. If he sticks this season, he will be an exclusive rights free agent in 2027, having just two accrued seasons. That would give Dallas contractual control over Clark for at least one more year, which could help him stick on the roster now.
2026 Projections
Role: Backup safety
Roster Chance: 10%
What won’t help Clark going forward is the Cowboys’ overhauled safety room. While Donovan Wilson and Juanyeh Thomas are gone, neither of their spots appears to be Clark’s now. Not only did Dallas sign veterans Jalen Thompson and P.J. Locke, but then they spent the 11th-overall pick on Caleb Downs. With Malik Hooker and Markquese Bell still around, the numbers game doesn’t seem to be going Clark’s way.
Still, he has a shot. With all of the new safeties Dallas has added, not to mention Christian Parker’s arrival and strong feelings about defensive backs, Hooker and Bell aren’t guaranteed anything. That’s especially true for the 30-year-old Hooker, who doesn’t give you any special teams value. While he may still have a key role when Caleb Downs plays nickel corner, who’s to say that Locke, Bell, or someone else doesn’t work their way into consideration and make Hooker expendable? If the veteran goes, that could create a spot for Clark at the bottom of the depth chart.
Also, as of now, Dallas hasn’t re-signed longtime specialist C.J. Goodwin. Since 2019, Goodwin has held down a roster spot solely for his special teams work. But as he’s now 36, Goodwin’s run may finally be over. And if they have a roster spot for another special teams favorite who probably offers even more value for secondary depth, Clark could be a candidate.
Yes, these are long shots. But they’re at least enough to give Alijah Clark hope, and you never know what injuries or other developments could bring over the next few months. But as Goodwin has proved for the last seven seasons, special teams play can keep you employed. If Clark can become one of Nick Sorensen’s favorite guys, it might be enough to get him through final cuts.
Check out our previous player profiles from this series:
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