Christian Parker laid out his vision for the Dallas Cowboys' defense in his introductory press conference on Wednesday.
The 34-year-old left no doubt that he wants to build a diverse system that keeps opposing quarterbacks on their toes -- something that was completely absent under Matt Eberflus.
The conclusion of the presser marked the unofficial start of Parker's evaluation of the roster. Less than 48 hours later, the Cowboys made their first roster cut of the offseason by releasing linebacker Logan Wilson, who was acquired ahead of the 2025 trade deadline.
Releasing Wilson saves $6.5 million on the salary cap as Dallas works to get under the threshold before the new league year.
The #Cowboys have waived LB Logan Wilson
— Tommy Yarrish (@tommy_yarrish) February 20, 2026
Dallas Cowboys release Logan Wilson in Christian Parker's first move as DC
The move hardly comes as a surprise, as Wilson struggled to make an impact upon arriving in Dallas. While Eberflus did not help the cause by not playing Wilson a single snap in Week 17 (which Eberflus later deemed a coaching mistake), Wilson's mileage in the NFL really showed.
Wilson could not keep up in coverage, and his lack of range chasing ball-carriers made it difficult to give him a full allotment of snaps. Considering how poorly Kenneth Murray played, it’s telling that Wilson’s declining athleticism still kept him off the field.
The Cowboys needed help at linebacker, and Wilson was available for next to nothing after the Cincinnati Bengals benched him in favor of younger players.
The trade was a desperate attempt to jolt the sinking ship that was Eberflus’ defense, made with no expectation that Wilson would stick around in 2026.
That said, Wilson’s release should still put the defense on notice. Regardless of why he was acquired or how his play declined, Parker won’t keep players who don’t fit his vision.
Some decisions may be out of his hands due to existing contracts, but make no mistake: Wilson won’t be the last cut tied to this philosophical shift, and the Cowboys are now firmly in the market for a linebacker.
Ohio State phenom Sonny Styles has been widely mocked to Dallas. In free agency, some believe the Cowboys could pursue Quincy Williams, the older brother of star defensive tackle Quinnen Williams. Eagles free agent Nakobe Dean, who played under Parker for two seasons, is another exciting option.
Cowboys fans should feel confident that Parker is leading the search.