The Athletic's Jon Machota writes that the Dallas Cowboys' safety position stands out as one that cut see a cut for salary cap purposes this offseason. It's likely that safety Donovan Wilson stays with the team, but another option would be safety Malik Hooker. Wilson has a base salary of $6.5 million in 2025, and cutting him would leave $3.3 million in dead money. The 30-year-old started all 17 games last year, finished third on the team in tackles (82) and fifth in sacks (4.5), and ranked 61st among all safeties on Pro Football Focus. Hooker, meanwhile, also played every game in 2024, ranking fourth in tackles (81) and tied for the team lead in interceptions (two). He has a $5.5 million base salary this year and $6.5 million in 2026. He'd leave behind $4 million in dead money if he was cut. Machota thinks the Cowboys will keep both safeties.
The Dallas Cowboys agreed to terms to re-sign safety Donovan Wilson to a three-year deal worth up to $24 million, according to sources. The first two years of the deal are fully guaranteed at $13.5 million. Wilson only played in nine games due to injury in 2021, but he cashed in after bouncing back in a big way for the Cowboys last year. The 28-year-old recorded a career-high 101 tackles (77 solo), a career-high five sacks, seven tackles for loss, nine QB hits, an interception, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery in 17 regular season starts in his fourth year in the NFL. Wilson will remain a starter for the Cowboys and should be back on the fantasy radar in IDP leagues in 2023.
Upcoming free-agent safety Donovan Wilson isn't expected to return to Dallas, according to Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. The 28-year-old is coming off the best season of his career, finishing with a team-high 101 total tackles, adding five sacks and one interception. With the Cowboys looking to secure new agreements with Tony Pollard, Dalton Schultz, and Ezekiel Elliott, to name a few, keeping Wilson on the roster may be challenging. However, the 2019 sixth-round pick shouldn't be unemployed for long if he doesn't remain in Dallas, as many teams around the league will be interested in his services.
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