Cowboys 2026 roster rundown: DB Zion Childress

Zion Childress did a lot to increase his stock in last year's training camp and hopes to take it even further in 2026 with a roster spot. He'll need to impress a new defensive coaching staff to do it, and perhaps show his value at a new position in the Cowboys' secondary.

Background

Years in NFL:1
Acquired by:UDFA (2025)

Childress came out of Kentucky last year with exceptional versatility, reportedly having played every possible role at both cornerback and safety during his collegiate career. Perhaps the proverbial Jack of all trades, master of none" label, along with noted issues in his tackling ability, caused him to go undrafted. He was quickly signed by the Cowboys as a free agent.

Working mostly as a slot corner, Childress was consistently praised throughout the offseason. Though it wasn't enough to get him onto the 53-man roster, Childress did make the practice squad and was called up for the first two regular-season games for special teams duties.

Ahead of Week 3, the Houston Texans poached Childress away from Dallas. He did not appear in a game for them and was waived about a month later. The Cowboys hadn't lost track of Childress, signing him back to the practice squad just a couple of days later. He got called up for one more game last year in November, and finally got a few snaps on defense. That January, he signed a new deal to return with Dallas in 2026.

Contract Status

Years Left:2
2026 Cap Hit:$1.01 million

As often happens with guys signed from the practice squad, Childress essentially got a new version of his original UDFA contract. It's still for minimal money and runs through his projected third season, when he would then be a restricted free agent in 2028.

2026 Projections

Role:Backup DB
Roster Chance:10%

Though he's still listed as a CB on the Cowboys' official roster, reports from the spring camps had Childress taking all of his reps at safety. This may indicate a position switch is in the works, or just that Dallas has seen enough of his corner work and now wanted to evaluate his versatility.

With Christian Parker's arrival as defensive coordinator, there's a new emphasis on safeties who can also drop down and defend the slot. That ability was highlighted in the free agent signings of Jalen Thompson and P.J. Locke, and is now the plan for rookie Caleb Downs. If this is the new blueprint for what Dallas wants in its safeties, or at least some of them, Childress seems a good fit.

However, you can't play safety if you can't tackle. This knock on Childress' game from his college days may already be rectified, but it's worth monitoring as he tries to force his way onto the 53. Even if veterans Malik Hooker and Markquese Bell are being phased out in Dallas, core skills and experience won't be easily overcome by Childress or other developing prospects.

The Cowboys are likely facing some tough decisions in their secondary at final cuts. Alijah Clark is another DB prospect with versatility and perhaps an emerging lead role on special teams. There are a slew of intriguing cornerbacks like Caelen Carson, Josh Butler, Reddy Steward, Derion Kendrick, and Trikweze Bridges who are all battling for the last spot or two on that depth chart. A few guys are going to have great camps but still get pinched by the numbers, and Childress could easily be among them.

Like the rest of the competition, all Childress can do now is perform. If he can at least maintain last year's momentum, it should get him back to the practice squad. For anything more, he'll need to shine on special teams and earn trust for expanded defensive duties.

Check out our previous player profiles from this series:

RB Israel Abanikanda | P Bryan Anger | K Brandon Aubrey | S Justin Barron | G T.J. Bass | C Cooper Beebe | CB DaRon Bland | RB Jaydon Blue | G Tyler Booker | CB Josh Butler | CB Caelen Carson | S Alijah Clark | DT Kenny Clark | OT Ajani Cornelius | RB Malik Davis | S Caleb Downs | DT Tommy Dunn | CB Cobie Durant | OLB Donovan Ezeiruaku | TE Princeton Fant | TE Jake Ferguson | WR Ryan Flournoy | OLB Rashan Gary | C Matt Hennessy | S Malik Hooker | OLB James Houston | QB Sam Howell | WR Jordan Hudson | LB Shemar James | WR Tyler Johnson | G Trevor Keegan | CB Derion Kendrick | WR CeeDee Lamb | OLB Isaiah Land | OLB Marist Liufau | S P.J. Locke | FB Hunter Luepke | RB Phil Mafah | QB Joe Milton III | WR Jonathan Mingo | CB Devin Moore | DT Otito Ogbonnia | DT L.T. Overton | LB DeMarvion Overshown | WR George Pickens | QB Dak Prescott | CB Shavon Revel | TE DJ Rogers | TE Luke Schoonmaker | OT Drew Shelton | LS Trent Sieg | WR Anthony Smith | G Tyler Smith | OLB Charles Snowden | TE Brevyn Spann-Ford | OT Terence Steele | CB Reddy Steward | OT Nate Thomas | S Jalen Thompson | DT Jay Toia | TE Michael Trigg | WR KaVontae Turpin | WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling | OLB Tyrus Wheat | RB Javonte Williams | DT Quinnen Williams | OLB Sam Williams | OL DJ Wingfield | LB Dee Winters | DT D.J. Withers | S Julius Wood