Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said he would make a few trades before the NFL deadline to improve the team’s defense. He did so by trading for linebacker Logan Wilson using a seventh-round pick and defensive tackle Quinnen Williams for a first- and a second-round pick.
Wilson has a long history of being a leader and defensive playmaker during his time in Cincinnati, something Dallas has lacked at linebacker all season. Williams is one of the top five players at his position and gives the Cowboys defense a fortified look at defensive tackle for the first time in over a decade.
As both players get ready for their debuts on Monday night against the Las Vegas Raiders, their arrival might not be enough to save the 2025 season, but their presence creates massive hope for what’s to come next season and beyond.
First point: A mentor at linebacker
Before Dallas made any trades, we noted five ways they could improve their defense, either by adding or subtracting at certain positions. One of the areas of focus was at linebacker, where getting a proven veteran to help stabilize the position should have been a priority. Initially, that player was supposed to be Kenneth Murray, whom the Cowboys traded for in the offseason and has been in the league for six seasons.
That plan has not worked out, as Murray’s flashes on the field have not outweighed his low moments. Enter Logan Wilson. Over the course of their careers, Wilson has proven to be the more productive player and has shown better instincts, especially in defending the run.
Above the improved play at linebacker fans should expect from Wilson, his most significant impact on the team might be what he does for the locker room and the position group. On his way out of Cincinnati, rookie linebacker Barrett Carter posted on social media that Wilson took him under his wing and showed him “what it looks like to be a pro in all areas of life.” That same leadership is what Dallas hopes Wilson can bring to the team.
Last year, when Eric Kendricks was with Dallas, his mentorship greatly benefited younger players, including Marist Liufau. The former third-round pick seemed ready for a breakout sophomore season based on his performance in the second half of last season. However, this year, Liufau has regressed and no longer appears to be the same player. It’s probably not a coincidence that it’s happened with Kendricks out of the picture.
Although there are just eight games remaining in the season, Wilson’s contract extends through 2027, providing ample time for him to mentor both Liufau and Shemar James, both on and off the field. With a healthy DeMarvion Overshown joining forces with Wilson, Liufau, and James, the future looks bright for all four players as they remain together for the next few seasons.
Second point: Figuring out the future at DT
If the Cowboys can’t figure out a way to stop the run with all three men clogging up the middle, then things have to be stripped down to a fundamental level next offseason, starting with letting go of Matt Eberflus.
For right now, the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator gets to scheme up a game plan with the best defensive tackle unit Dallas has had in a long time. All three men are expected to have significant roles despite Clark and Williams playing the same one-technique position. Even Solomon Thomas can’t be forgotten as a rotational piece with Osa Odighizuwa.
However, looking ahead to 2026, it’s difficult to see a world in which all four defensive tackles remain with Dallas. There is too much invested in Williams for him to be the odd man out. Thomas is under contract for another year with a favorable salary, so his dollar-for-dollar value is too good to pass up on.
That leaves just Odighizuwa and Clark. The Cowboys signed Odighizuwa to a four-year deal before free agency and named him a defensive captain this year. His dead cap hit would be over $30 million if he were released in 2026. The upside of his age and production history remains, allowing him to continue as a key part of the defense.
Following the money, Clark looks like the odd man out if everything remains the same. Despite being under contract through the 2027 season, the former Green Bay Packer is no longer owed any guaranteed money after this year. If Dallas released him before March 13, they would save over $21 million against the salary cap. The Cowboys could approach Clark about restructuring his contract, but would a veteran player like him be open to that when he’s trying to capitalize on his career earnings? And would Jerry Jones really release the player who was the linchpin in ensuring the Micah Parsons trade went through after one season?
Third point: Zeroing in on key positions in the draft
Heading into 2026, the Cowboys will have almost all 11 of their starters on offense under contract. George Pickens is the only glaring free agent they would need to re-sign. Terence Steele, who is battling for his job in practice this week, could also be replaced in 2026.
When the Parsons trade was made, Dallas had four first-round picks over the next four years, and with the way the defense has played this year, the hope was that all four would be used on replenishing the talent on that side of the ball. So far, one of the first-round picks has been used on defense and put toward the Williams trade.
Defensive tackle was a massive need for Dallas heading into 2026, but now with Williams, Odighizuwa, and Thomas almost all sure to return next season, that room looks a lot different than it did a few weeks ago. Even Logan Wilson being in the building allows some flexibility at linebacker, so that Dallas doesn’t need to force a first-round pick at that position if the right player is not there. They still have plenty of young talent to develop there, as mentioned above.
That leaves two key positions on defense Dallas could zero in on with their two first-round picks in the upcoming draft—edge rusher and safety. Strictly on a football level, the passing of Marshawn Kneeland creates a long-term need at the position, considering Sam Williams, Jadeveon Clowney, Dante Fowler Jr, James Houston, and Peyton Turner are all free agents in the offseason. That leaves Donovan Ezeiruaku as the only player guaranteed to return next year.
Dallas could take a page out of the Atlanta Falcons’ playbook and draft two edge rushers in the first round if they felt the need to. It took a few games, but things are starting to click for Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr., and people are starting to have hope for Atlanta’s defense in the future.
It’s time the Cowboys invest real capital into the safety position. Dallas has not drafted a true safety in the first round since Roy Williams in 2002. Byron Jones eventually played safety, but his original position was at cornerback. Malik Hooker and Markquese Bell are the only two players with deals that go into 2026.
Donovan Wilson and Juanyeh Thomas are free agents, and Dallas could decide to move on from both. Depending on the talent at the position, Dallas might have to use the higher of their two first-round picks to get a blue-chip player at safety.
Fourth point: Frees up space for George Pickens
Right after the fallout from the NFL trade deadline, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated noted that Dallas trading for Quinnen Williams would give them greater salary-cap flexibility than what they would have had to pay Micah Parsons, clearing the runway for more contract extensions with other players.
“Dallas has [Quinnen] Williams under contract for $7.825 million this year, $21.75 million next year and $25.5 million in ’27. Comparatively, the Packers are paying Parsons $45.17 million, $40.837 million and $38 million over those three years. That’s a savings of $68.932 million, or about $23 million per year. Now, Dallas has got to do something smart with that money, but that’s a comparative player who costs a lot less.”
Smart front offices around the NFL find ways to keep multiple star players on long-term deals without crippling their salary caps (e.g., the Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles). The Cowboys’ front office painted themselves into a corner by waiting until the last minute to sign Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, and Micah Parsons, forcing them to decide which of the three to let walk because the price tag would be “too rich” to pay all three.
While comparing Parsons to Williams as players does not make it an even swap, the difference in savings opens the door for Dallas to spend money to keep players like Brandon Aubrey and George Pickens in the building for the long term.
Pickens has been playing like a Pro Bowl player in his first season with Dallas and is hoping to be paid like a No. 1 wide receiver in the offseason. Even if Dallas decides to franchise tag Pickens at first, they have the salary space to work out a long-term deal.
How they construct the roster over the next few years will truly determine if the trade of Micah Parsons was good or not.
Fifth point: Keeping Dak Prescott’s window open
When Dak Prescott has been at his best, the defense has usually played really well on the other side of the ball. In 2021 and 2022, the Cowboys had the most takeaways on defense in the NFL. That meant more opportunities for Prescott and the offense to score points.
While the offense has been among the best in the league for most of the season, they’ve had to do so playing from behind. Outside of the wins against the New York Jets and Washington Commanders, Dallas’ offense has never had a chance to play freely without worrying that the defense will give up a touchdown on the following drive.
The defense was in line for an overhaul next year. Still, the addition of Williams and Wilson as key contributors for the next few seasons helps keep Prescott’s window for success open without having to guide what could have been one of the league’s youngest defenses in 2026.
If the front office is serious about making sure Prescott wins a Super Bowl before his career is over, adding Williams and Wilson are building blocks for what next season could look like. If they do things right in the offseason through the draft and free agency, then Prescott should have a defense opposite him that looks a lot like 2021-2023 rather than what it’s looked like this year.
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