Training camp has officially come and gone, and just one preseason tune-up stands between the Dallas Cowboys and the start of the 2026 regular season. Friday night will be the final chance for Cowboys players on the roster bubble to make their case, as Dallas hosts the New Orleans Saints in the preseason finale.
At this point in time, there is no denying that Dallas’ roster, at least on paper, looks better than it did a year ago today. While the Cowboys seem to be in a better spot, they are nowhere
close to a finished product.
The Cowboys could benefit from adding some more depth, particularly on the defensive side of the ball, before the start of the regular season. If Dallas looks outside the organization to make an upgrade, linebacker will likely be near the top of their priority list. While the Cowboys did bring in Dee Winters during the spring, the long-term health concerns surrounding DeMarvion Overshown and the inexperience of rookie Jaishawn Barham may push Dallas to add another capable body to the group.
While most instant-impact free agents are no longer on the open market, a few players still available could be solid contributors on contending teams. At this point in the summer, those guys are looking to latch on with a team before the start of the year in any way possible. One of those players is veteran linebacker Bobby Wagner.
Wagner, who played the last two seasons with the Washington Commanders, has been linked to the Cowboys many times in the past few years. Just this week, that connection was rekindled once again in the speculation realm. In an article predicting where the top remaining free agents will sign before the start of the regular season, Wagner is predicted to end up in Dallas.
When it comes to big names left on the market, there is none bigger than Bobby Wagner. The future Hall of Famer is a six-time first-team All-Pro who has racked up 2,000 tackles over 14 seasons. He also remains a starting-caliber off-ball linebacker.
Wagner, who is the reigning Walter Payton Man of the Year, started all 17 games for the Washington Commanders last season and finished with 162 tackles, 4.5 sacks, eight tackles for loss, and two interceptions.
There is no shortage of teams that could use a defensive leader of Wagner’s caliber, but the Dallas Cowboys might make the most sense. Dallas has taken an aggressive approach to rebuilding its defense this offseason—one that has included adding Miller—and head coach Brian Schottenheimer spent time with Wagner with the Seattle Seahawks.
“You’re looking at one of the biggest Bobby Wagner fans in the world,” Schottenheimer told Kay Adams of Up & Adams in March. “…I love that guy.”
Wagner may want to skip the rigors of training camp and land with a team after roster cuts, but the 36-year-old is likely to play again in 2026. The prediction here is that he jumps from one NFC East team to another.
The Cowboys/Wagner pairing makes almost too much sense for it not to happen. While the former All-Pro is not the player he once was, he would be an extremely valuable depth piece for a Cowboys team that could desperately use another linebacker with consistent starting experience.
Adding Wagner would not just make the Cowboys better right now; it would give them some much-needed insurance in case either Winters or Overshown is unable to stay healthy throughout the entirety of the regular season.
If the Cowboys do end up being in the market to sign a veteran free agent before September 13th, there is a decent chance Bobby Wagner will be that guy.
Would you sign Wagner? Which free agent still out there do you have your eye on?
