5 free agent linebackers Cowboys should pursue after Logan Wilson’s release

The Cowboys made a move this week, releasing linebacker Logan Wilson just a few months after trading for him. The move cleared up $6.5 million in cap space, and also increased the likelihood that they’ll pursue a linebacker in free agency this offseason. Here are five specific names they should look into.

Devin Lloyd

A former first-round pick back in 2022, Devin Lloyd has had an up-and-down career thus far. He got off to a hot start, being named Defensive Rookie of the Month in September, and graded out as the best rookie linebacker that year.

His numbers regressed over the next two years, which led to Jacksonville declining his fifth-year option at the start of this past season. But with a new defensive coordinator, Lloyd put up the best year of his career, being named Second-Team All Pro.

Lloyd is likely going to be the top free agent linebacker on the market, so he’d command a high price. The expectation is he’ll garner somewhere around $20 million a year, which would put him in the top three of linebacker salaries and right up there with Fred Warner.

Still, Lloyd’s talent is the kind the Cowboys should inquire about, even if he ends up being out of their price range.

Demario Davis

One of the most consistent playmakers of the last decade, Demario Davis continues to thrive, even as he just turned 37 years old. A third-round pick back in 2012, Davis has transformed his body multiple times to stay relevant in a league with rapidly evolving defensive trends.

From 2019 to 2023, Davis was a constant on the All-Pro list while with the Saints. This year didn’t result in the same accolade, but Davis set career highs in tackles and forced fumbles, which is impressive given his career résumé.

Of course, his rejuvenation this year came under new defensive coordinator Brandon Staley. Like Christian Parker, Staley is a disciple of Vic Fangio. New Cowboys pass-game coordinator Derrick Ansley also worked under Staley with the Chargers.

Not only is Davis a proven veteran with plenty of gas left in the tank, he’d come in with a baseline understanding of the scheme and how it functions. He could also provide a valuable veteran presence to a young linebacker room.

Quincy Williams

When the Cowboys traded for Quinnen Williams earlier this year, they broke up a literal brotherhood in the process. Quinnen’s big brother, Quincy Williams, had been playing alongside him with the Jets since 2021. Now, they’ll have a chance to reunite the brothers.

That’s not the only reason why the Cowboys should look into signing Quincy Williams. He’s also a talented player, being named to the First-Team All Pro back in 2023. Most of Williams’ numbers regressed slightly from that stellar year, but he did set career highs in 2024 for forced fumbles and recovered fumbles.

He was one of several players who fell out of favor with the new coaching staff this past year, even being benched at one point, and Williams’ play did suffer greatly as a result. Given his body of work, though, it’s easy to argue that it was a coaching issue rather than Williams just declining as a player.

It’s entirely possible the latter is true, though. It happens all the time. But the Cowboys ought to at least give him a look, especially if Williams would be willing to take a bit of a deal to reunite with his brother.

Nakobe Dean

This free agent fit will be postulated many more times between now and when the market opens, and it became a popular projection the moment Christian Parker was hired. It makes plenty of sense, too: Nakobe Dean has spent the past two seasons playing for Parker and Vic Fangio in Philadelphia.

The former Georgia star has both a national championship and a Super Bowl ring and he knows the system very well. It’s easy to see why the Cowboys would be interested, and even be considered frontrunners, for Dean’s services.

On the other hand, there may be some reason for caution. Dean fell in the draft due to injury concerns, and he’s played in just 47 of a possible 68 games in his career, starting just 27 of them. He looked great in 2024, his one year as the full-time starter, but even then Dean’s season was cut short with a torn patellar tendon.

The Cowboys have never shied away from taking chances on players with injury histories, and Dean’s familiarity with Parker may provide extra comfort in the gamble. But it has to be acknowledged that this signing would, indeed, be a gamble.

Alex Singleton

An underrated name in the free agent market, Alex Singleton may be the most realistic target for Dallas.

A longtime journeyman after going undrafted out of Montana State back in 2016, Singleton finally broke into the NFL in 2019 after a stint in the Canadian Football League. He became a starter under Jim Schwartz out of necessity, and then held onto that role the next year when Jonathan Gannon implemented the Fangio scheme that Parker now brings.

The result was Singleton setting a career high in tackles and pass breakups. That offseason, he signed with the Broncos as a free agent, where both Parker and Marcus Dixon were coaching. His prior experience to the Fangio defense helped Singleton step into a starting role again, and he broke his career high for tackles each of the next two years.

An ACL injury cut his 2024 season short, but Singleton returned this year and led the Broncos in tackles yet again. A team captain the past two years, Singleton has been praised for his leadership ability as well. The Broncos are expected to let him test the market due to his age – Singleton will turn 33 in December – and the presence of younger players behind him on the depth chart.

In Dallas, Singleton would provide a cheap stopgap option alongside DeMarvion Overshown. He can provide leadership and scheme knowledge while helping to mentor the likes of Marist Liufau, Shemar James, and whomever else the Cowboys may draft this April.

Read the full article here