BREAKING: Source Pushes Back on Donovan Wilson Cut Talk

A source close to the situation told HowBoutWow, “Donovan Wilson is here. I don’t understand why people are talking about him being cut.”

That’s a strong rebuttal to the rising speculation surrounding Wilson’s future with the Cowboys following June 1. But just because he's still around doesn’t mean the noise came from nowhere.

This is a good sign for the Cowboys because it means they are looking at team building more as an exercise in eliminating their weaknesses instead of trying to find value for dollar spent for every deal. This is an overpay for the role he was capable of playing in 2024, but there is still upside, and if he's the same he can be a piece of a versatile DB room. 

(Donovan Wilson Instagram)

Why the Speculation Makes Sense

The Cowboys could free up $7 million in cap space by releasing Wilson—a number that represents about 2.74% of the 2025 salary cap. In the world of NFL roster-building, that’s a meaningful chunk, especially for a team that thrives in the second wave of free agency. Dallas doesn’t just find depth here—they find starters.

And Wilson wasn’t good in 2024. The shift to a new defensive scheme under a different staff changed his role, and it showed. Fewer splash plays, more over-pursuit. His Pro Football Focus grade dropped to 62.2 overall, ranking 97th out of 170 qualifying safeties. His coverage grade? A disappointing 56.6, good for 112th.

Meanwhile, the emergence of Juanyeh Thomas and Markquese Bell has added pressure to the depth chart. Both are younger and cheaper. And while neither graded well overall last year (128th and 144th, respectively), they did grade 10-15% higher in coverage, and we do know Matt Eberflus also values coverage discipline.   And there’s a sense inside and outside the building that their best football is ahead of them.

The Fit & the Flash

Wilson is not be an ideal schematic fit in Matt Eberflus’ two-deep zone scheme. But—here’s the twist—Eberflus also preaches takeaways. And that’s where Wilson shines.

In the last three seasons (2021–2024), he’s forced six fumbles—two in 2024 alone—while also racking up 4.5 sacks and ranking third among all safeties in pressures last season. He creates game-changing moments. When he hits, the ball comes loose.

My Why

Again: “Donovan Wilson is here.”

The facts are Eberflus values takeaways and Wilson delivers that while also raising the floor of your run defense compared to Bell and Thomas.  If Wilson is not playing well in a particular week, or single high looks are out versus a specific opponent, they can go to other options.  While Bell and Thomas are notably worse against the run than Wilson, they can help close big exploitable gaps.