FRISCO, Texas – On Friday, the Cowboys waived linebacker Logan Wilson.
Wilson, 29, played in seven games for the Cowboys in 2025 and started one. He posted 24 total tackles, a forced fumble and a pass breakup. Wilson had no guaranteed money left on his deal, and the move saved Dallas $6.5 million in cap space for 2026.
At the NFL trade deadline on November 4, the Cowboys traded a 2026 seventh-round pick to the Bengals for Wilson in the hopes he'd provide a boost for Dallas' struggling defense and linebacker unit.
Moving on from Wilson is the first personnel move that the Cowboys have made under new defensive coordinator Christian Parker. In his introductory press conference on Tuesday, Parker outlined his vision for what he wants Dallas’ defense to look like in 2026.
"Definitely stopping the run and affecting the quarterback are the two most important things you can do," Parker said. "You affect the quarterback by stopping the run… When you have teams in 3rd-and-2s and 3rd-and-3s, usually those aren't the defenses that are as successful. But if you can win first down and you're strong on fundamentals, we're getting off blocks, we're tackling, we're attacking the football, we're situationally aware, those are the ones that are successful."
On the same day Dallas acquired Wilson, the Cowboys also traded a 2026 second-round pick, a 2027 first-round pick and DT Mazi Smith to the Jets for DT Quinnen Williams.
Those were two of the seven total trades with a player acquired that the Cowboys made leading up to, and during the 2025 season, as Dallas also acquired WR George Pickens, DT Kenny Clark, QB Joe Milton, CB Kaiir Elam and LB Kenneth Murray via trades.
The Cowboys could be active in the trade market again this offseason with plenty of spots to fill on the roster. The league's legal tampering period for free agents begins on March 9, and the first day of the league year is March 11, when the Cowboys will officially be able to sign free agents and make trades.
