With Jerry Jones planning to return the Cowboys to their golden era, the offseason axe has officially fallen. The first victim of the defensive overhaul, as a result, is a recently acquired linebacker whose short tenure is creating a significant financial windfall for Dallas.

This Friday, the Cowboys released LB Logan Wilson, effectively saving $6.5 million in 2026. It is not a significant amount of money for a franchise that is $31.4 million over the cap, third-lowest in the league. But with Wilson not returning on the investment, the writing was always on the wall:

• Jones brought the veteran in to add depth to the linebacker position. However, even in the league’s worst defense, Wilson was only playing fifty percent of their total snaps.
• The new defensive coordinator, Christian Parker, aims to improve the team’s run defense and pressure opponent quarterbacks more. But while Wilson was a decent tackler, he didn’t offer much as a run defender, in coverage, or in the pass-rush.
• While Wilson was voted team captain for the Cincinnati Bengals in 2025, the calf injury kept him from performing as a standout starter last season. As such, the Bengals had already benched him in favor of a rookie. Nothing much changed in Dallas, as he failed to earn a full-time role on defense. He only had one start in seven games with the Cowboys.

With Parker in place of Eberflus now, the team’s direction will also change. In those plans, Wilson clearly doesn’t fit. But first, let’s set this clear: while Jones is a self-proclaimed gambler, he did make a low-risk move in this trade.

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Wilson was brought in from the Bengals at the trade deadline last year after 2025 offseason acquisition Jack Sanborn, who played for former DC Matt Eberflus in Chicago, didn’t pan out. And Jones knew about Wilson’s calf injury.

However, Jones also knew that the veteran was a core player for the Bengals’ Super Bowl LVI appearance, where they lost the Lombardi to the LA Rams. Yet, knowing the latest situation, he only made a seventh-round pick trade for him.

This trade didn’t work the way everyone involved would’ve hoped. But it also didn’t harm the Cowboys much.

As for the Dallas defense’s future, Parker already has a blueprint.

“Definitely stopping the run and affecting the quarterback are the two most important things you can do,” Parker said in his introductory press conference. “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.”

In this plan, Wilson doesn’t fit. In his short stint in Dallas, the LB had 24 tackles, one pass deflection, and one forced fumble to his name. In the last game he played for the franchise, the linebacker registered seven total tackles against the Giants in a loss.

While this move does not get the Cowboys under the salary cap, it sure brings them closer. With cap issues, the Cowboys also have to deal with wide receiver George Pickens.

Trading George Pickens could be a preferable option for the Dallas Cowboys

George Pickens will soon enter free agency after just one season with the Cowboys. While Jones should like to keep him, the star wide receiver has been making headlines with his future. With many predicting that he may not be staying in Dallas, NFL insider Dan Graziano has come up with the perfect solution where both the player and the franchise end up in a win-win situation.

“Raiders get: WR George Pickens, 2026 first-round pick (No. 20 overall),” wrote Graziano. “Cowboys get: Crosby, 2026 second-round pick (No. 36 overall).”

Pickens recorded 93 receptions for 1,429 receiving yards and nine touchdowns in 17 games. There’s no doubt, he will be demanding a lot of money, with predictions of up to $140 million.

According to Graziano, neither a long-term contract nor a franchise tag could solve Jones’ problem. However, it would put pressure on the salary cap. After all, they are already paying top money to another wide receiver, CeeDee Lamb.

On the other hand, Graziano’s proposal would see the Cowboys get Maxx Crosby from the Las Vegas Raiders. The $106.5 million edge rusher will make $35.8 million in 2026 and around $29.7 million next year. The star All-Pro could be the missing piece in their pass-rush, something that has been missing since Micah Parsons’ departure. Meanwhile, Crosby could be a part of a team that will give him more snaps, something he fighted for in the Raiders.

Even Las Vegas would benefit from the trade. The franchise is well under the cap space, and it won’t be a problem for them to pay Pickens the money he demands. Expected to use their first 2026 draft pick on QB Fernando Mendoza, Pickens can be the X-Factor in their offense. Realistically, the deal is very much possible. Now, it remains to be seen whether Jones is satisfied with the win-win trade or if he has something else in mind.