The Dallas Cowboys desperately need to fix their defense. Matt Eberflus clearly wasn't the right guy for the job, and while some of that may also have had to do with the personnel, letting him go was probably the right thing.
Now, with Christian Parker in town, the Cowboys will probably prioritize fixing their broken secondary. That spells trouble for Donovan Wilson, who may have already played his last snap for America's Team.
The Cowboys Should Move on from Donovan Wilson in Free Agency
Parker's arrival in Arlington sparked a debate surrounding Wilson's potential outlook. On the one hand, they worked together at Texas A&M, and he could use Wilson as a box safety. On the other hand, Wilson isn't a good fit for Parker's scheme.
The former Philadelphia Eagles assistant coach uses a scheme that frequently utilizes two high safties. Wilson struggles mightily in coverage, and he's often exposed in deeper roles, so he's not going to be of much help in heavy coverage looks.
Wilson finished the season with 71 total tackles (39 solo), three tackles for loss, five passes defensed, two interceptions, and one fumble recovery. He struggled mightily in the passing game, giving up 27 catches on 35 targets (77.1 percent catch rate) for 329 yards and a career-worst seven touchdowns. Opposing quarterbacks had a passer rating of 121.3 when going against him, and he missed 14 tackles -- also a career worst.
He's going to be a free agent, and with the Cowboys currently $29.1 million over the salary cap (per Over The Cap), there should be little to no incentive to bring him back. He was on the wrong end of many big plays last season, and this is the perfect opportunity to get a clean slate.
The Cowboys have two first-round picks this year, so they could try to trade up and land a generational talent at the position by drafting Caleb Downs. He's a can't-miss talent, and we've seen how dynamic, do-it-all safeties like Nick Emmanwori can turn a defense around. They can hit hard like a linebacker and excel in coverage like a cornerback.
Also, with Reed Blankenship set to test free agency, it's hard to believe Parker won't try to get back together with him in Dallas. He's already familiar with his defensive system, and he's probably going to demand a much more reasonable deal in free agency after coming off a down year.
With plenty of options available, Wilson has to be nervous about his job next season. It could lead the Cowboys down a different path and Wilson without a spot entering the 2026 season.