The Dallas Cowboys always seem to have some noise around their roster. This summer, the latest drama is around Micah Parsons' contract and his recent trade request from America's Team due to a lack of movement on an extension.
While owner Jerry Jones has come out to say they aren't interested in moving Parsons, this is something that needs to get resolved sooner rather than later. The rest of the team is looking ahead to the 2025 season, but there are several guys on the team now who won't be on the team down the line. And safety Donovan Wilson is likely entering his last season in Dallas.
Cowboys S Donovan Wilson Entering Last Preseason with Team
Wilson is going into the last year of his three-year, $21 million extension that he signed with the team back in 2023. He came into the league as a sixth-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft and developed into a starter in the backend of their defense.
Since landing that extension, he has started in at least 13 games, but last season, his numbers as a pass defender took a hit. According to PFF, Wilson had a 59 coverage grade (102nd among 171 graded safeties) with a 134.2 passer rating allowed and 11.2 yards allowed per reception. In total, he allowed 30 receptions last season.
His overall grade on PFF (63.7) also took a dip compared to the last two years (68 in 2023 & 70.1 in 2022). And as players get older, they typically don't get better. That's without mentioning that Wilson will turn 31 years old in February and will be searching for his third deal from Dallas.
The Cowboys will likely still start Wilson for the 2025 season, but there's a good shot they look to replace him next offseason. Whether or not that comes from free agency or the NFL draft remains to be seen.
With the big price tags for guys like Dak Prescott, Trevon Diggs, and CeeDee Lamb, to name a few, the Cowboys likely aren't going to spend big bucks on a safety in free agency. Especially if they make Parsons the highest-paid non-QB in the league. They could look to add a defender who's better in coverage and has more youth to replace Wilson. It'll also be interesting to see if third-year safety Juanyeh Thomas pushes Wilson for playing time as well.
The 2025 season is going to be Wilson's seventh in the NFL but probably will be his last one in Dallas.