Logan Wilson began the season with the Cincinnati Bengals before being traded to the Dallas Cowboys at the NFL Trade Deadline for a 2026 seventh-round pick following his benching. He appeared in seven games for Dallas, started just once, averaged 50% of snaps, and did not play at all in Week 17. Wilson ended his disappointing 2025 campaign with 70 tackles, the fewest since 2020 across 15 games and eight starts. He failed to register an interception for the second straight year and a tackle for a loss for the first time.
Dallas Cowboys veteran LB was on the chopping block
USATSI 27931642 scaled e1771622729586
Jan 4, 2026; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Dallas Cowboys linebacker Logan Wilson (55) breaks up a pass intended for New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29) during the fourth quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Because he was benched by two of the worst defenses in the league in 2025, his contract, the Cowboys’ hiring a new defensive coordinator and staff, and the team being roughly $30 million over the cap, Logan Wilson is strongly considered a cap casualty. He is scheduled to earn a non-guaranteed $6 million base salary and a $6.5 million cap in 2026, a non-guaranteed $6.66 million base salary and $7.21 million cap hit in 2027, per Over The Cap. The front office has no financial obligation to keep Wilson, as they can easily terminate his contract without any salary cap ramifications.
The Cowboys reveal the fate of veteran LB who was benched by two teams
According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, the Cowboys have released Logan Wilson with a pre-June 1st cut. The front office frees up $6.5 million in cap space for 2026 without incurring any dead cap and eliminates his $7.21 million cap hit in 2027, freeing that amount. Lastly, the front office should be approximately $24 million over the cap.
The Cowboys released LB Logan Wilson.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) February 20, 2026
Here’s how they can free up additional space
Restructure Dak Prescott: $30.96 million cap savings
Restructure CeeDee Lamb: $19.028 million cap savings
Cut Kenny Clark: $21.5 million cap savings
Cut Terence Steele: $8.75 million cap savings
Cut Malik Hooker: $6.85 million cap savings
Also Read: “Could Join Him”: Dallas Cowboys Linked to Free-Agent DB from Archrival