The Dallas Cowboys have gone to great lengths to address their defensive miscues this offseason. Team owner Jerry Jones got the ball rolling with the Quinnen Williams trade last season, and he's left no stone unturned trying to get better on that side of the field.
The Cowboys have invested heavily in their defense this offseason, but they could still use some help in the middle of the front seven. Their linebackers corps left plenty to be desired last year, and while a healthy season of DeMarvion Overshown can certainly help, he can't be trusted to stay on the field.
Considering that, new defensive coordinator Christian Parker should want to add another guy to the fold. That's why making a run at one of the most productive players of his generation, such as Bobby Wagner, should be an easy decision.
The Cowboys should make a run at veteran LB Bobby Wagner
While he's no longer in his prime, Wagner was still a hard-hitting, volume tackler last season for the Washington Commanders. As a proven veteran, he could help a first-time defensive coordinator like Parker get a hold of things. He might be a defensive back coach, but after watching how much the Cowboys suffered with subpar linebacker play, he can't afford to overlook this position group.
Wagner is an above-average guy who's going to produce in volume. He won't necessarily stand out from the rest of the pack at this point in his career, but that's not always a bad thing. Last year, he played in all 17 games (with 17 starts), logging 162 total tackles (79 solo), 8 tackles for loss, 9 QB hits, 4.5 sacks, 2 picks, and 3 passes defensed.
The Cowboys don't necessarily need him to start, but he can give them some insurance behind the injury-prone Overshown. The veteran LB can also put some pressure on Dee Winters, knowing that Rashan Gary will most likely start and play as many snaps as he can handle. He would also be an elite mentor to a team transitioning to a younger generation.
Spotrac has Wagner's market value at $7.7 million. Not bad if Jones wants to use him as a one-and-done piece.
This team is coming off a season in which it registered some of the worst defensive numbers in franchise history, like giving up 511 points. The Joneses have already taken major steps to fix what went wrong during the brief Matt Eberflus era, such as bringing in Parker and drafting Caleb Downs, possibly the best player in the draft.
If they truly have Super Bowl aspirations, they can't afford to consider every potential avenue to get better on that side of the field. Wagner clearly isn't in his prime anymore, but he's still a future first-ballot Hall of Famer.
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