When the Cowboys made their aggressive moves at the NFL trade deadline back in November, it was believed that the team had done well to shore up two areas of need on the defense. They added a star defensive lineman who could be the anchor of the unit in Pro Bowler Quinnen Williams from the Jets, but they also–importantly–addressed the team’s woeful linebacking crew by adding veteran Logan Wilson.
Williams has worked out and will clearly be a significant part of the defense going forward. Wilson has been a different story, unable to decisively beat out Kenneth Murray–who is rated among the worst linebackers in the NFL at Pro Football Focus–for snaps on the defensive side.
The site rates Murray as the No. 82 linebacker in the league, out of 87 that have been graded. PFF has Wilson at No. 72 out of 87. The Cowboys got a boost when DeMarvion Overshown returned from his knee injury in November, though he is now out with a concussion.
Logan Wilson Week 17 Cowboys Controversy
In fact, Wilson has been so overlooked by his own team and coaching staff that in Week 17, the Cowboys simply forgot to play him. It was a baffling turn of events that neither Wilson nor team owner Jerry Jones could explain. And in the end, the explanation from Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer was one last linebacker controversy to wrap up an awful season on the defensive side of the ball.
“We only had 21 snaps [on defense] in the first half,” Schottenheimer said after the Week 17 game. “We kind of messed the rotation in the second half. It’s not the first time it has happened. It won’t be the last time. It happens with receivers. It happens with defensive linemen. It shouldn’t happen. But we take that as a coaching staff.”
GettyDallas Cowboys linebacker Logan Wilson.
Cowboys Will Rebuild the LB Room
Now, the expectation is that the Cowboys will cut Wilson loose after the season and seek to rebuild the linebacking group altogether.
NFL contract guru Mike Ginnitti of Spotrac outlined that reality on a recent episode of “The Spotrac Podcast.” In looking at the future of the team, he had Wilson prominently listed as a roster “bubble” candidate.
“Logan Wilson, this has been a problem,” Ginnitti said. “Both Kenneth Murray and Logan Wilson brought in to offer experienced help to the situation. It got better with Wilson … but it wasn’t enough. I would expect a really nice draft pick put toward the interior of this Dallas defense.”
Cowboys Likely to Draft a LB
The Cowboys still have two first-round draft picks to work with in April, their own and one from the Packers. There are multiple–Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles from Ohio State, CJ Allen from Georgia, Anthony Hill from Texas–linebackers who could be worthy of first-round picks.
Either way, it would be a big surprise if Wilson is back in the middle next year.
“I would expect Logan Wilson to be moved on from, frees up $6.5 million in cap space, but again, leaves them with a big hole in the middle of that defense,” Ginnitti said.
Cowboys Predicted to Cut Ties With Controversial New Addition