The 2026 free-agent pool is growing shallow as March wraps up. Like the other 31 NFL teams, the Dallas Cowboys watched several players' contracts expire earlier this month before watching them find new homes, with notable departures including linebacker Jack Sanborn (Chicago Bears), wideout Jalen Tolbert (Miami Dolphins), and center Brock Hoffman (Pittsburgh Steelers).
Although some ex-Cowboys already know where they'll be playing in September, others are still stewing in free agency. That includes safety Donovan Wilson, who will likely remain unemployed to close out March, based on how the offseason has unfolded.
Donovan Wilson's Time in Free Agency Likely Won't End Soon
The 213th pick of the 2019 draft, Wilson is someone who grew from a supporting cast member into a key part of the Cowboys' defensive plans. The former Texas A&M Aggie made 75 starts in his 98 regular-season appearances, and even started in the four career playoff games he's played.
Having said that, all partnerships eventually end, and that became the case for Wilson after a forgettable 2025 performance.
There wasn't much that Wilson did well last season, to say the least. Although his numbers were slightly improved compared to the previous year, allowing 29 receptions on 37 targets (78.4%) for 315 yards and a 119.2 passer rating isn't a good look. That's even more so the case when looking at the eight touchdown passes he allowed, per Pro Football Focus, which account for 38.1% of the career TDs he's surrendered (21).
It isn't hard to imagine that teams aren't exactly eager to sign a safety whose coverage performance was tough to rely on. Additionally, Wilson missed a whopping 19.8% of his tackles, marking a new personal-worst outside of a rookie season when he played only 16 snaps.
If Wilson were younger, one could argue that he's capable of turning his career around. But after turning 31 years old in February, time isn't on the ex-Cowboy's side anymore, and it wouldn't be out of the question to theorize that he might be in full regression mode with how his PFF grades have fallen in recent years:
Season | Overall | Run Defense | Tackling | Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
2025 | 50.8 | 73.9 | 41.8 | 38.8 |
2024 | 63.7 | 79.7 | 56.0 | 59.0 |
2023 | 66.2 | 62.1 | 56.8 | 66.6 |
2022 | 71.3 | 74.6 | 60.6 | 65.9 |
Not only does his declining play make him less attractive to potential suitors, but Wilson's bid to find a new team is made tougher by where we are in the offseason. With the first waves of free agency done, most safety-needy teams already addressed that issue earlier this month, and if they haven't, it's likely because they want to address that priority at the 2026 NFL draft.
In other words, Wilson might have to wait until later in the offseason for an opportunity to emerge.
As unfortunate as it is to see the veteran defender waiting for a phone call, that's just the nature of the NFL. Everyone's time in the league eventually runs out, and even if Wilson still has a few seasons left in him, it's clear the Cowboys made the right call by turning the page in favor of a slightly younger option in P.J. Locke, who's already fitting in like a glove.
Cowboys fans will continue to monitor Wilson's free agency and where he could end up next, which will likely involve a lot of patience.