Jan. 17, 2026, 7:02 a.m. CT

One of the very first steps in the Dallas offseason is determining what to do with their own existing roster. This not only pertains to the Cowboys’ 2026 free agents to-be, 21 of them to be exact, but also players under contract who are either underachieving or just too dang expensive to keep around.

While some players and dead money are sure to come off the books, high ticket items like George Pickens and Javonte Williams threaten to break the bank. In order to deal with these incoming contracts, the Cowboys will have to make some tough decisions on a few veteran players.

There are three players in particular who could provide cap savings to the tune of $22,126,470 if Dallas decides to release them over the offseason. That’s who we will be discussing today.

LB Logan Wilson (2026 cap savings: $6,523,529)

It might surprise some to learn Logan Wilson is under contract with Dallas through the 2027 season. Heck, after playing just 224 snaps with the Cowboys, it might surprise some that Wilson is even on the roster now. Wilson’s physical decline looks like something even a new defensive coordinator can’t fix. For as smart as he is, and as good as he once was, there are some limitations that can’t be overcome.

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With no guaranteed money left on his deal, Wilson’s full $6,523,529 cap hit comes off the books if released. This almost feels like a foregone conclusion.

RT Terence Steele (2026 cap savings: $8,750,000)

Steele has been on the chopping block for years but 2026 may finally be the year it happens. With a cap charge of $18,125,000 this season, Steele is one of Dallas’ more costly players. His level of play, particularly as a pass protector, has been extremely poor and entering his seventh NFL season, that’s not likely to change. It’s worth pointing out, if the Cowboys make him post June 1 cut, they could save $14M on the release.

Steele’s ironman reliability, strength in run blocking, and hard-working character give him a chance to hold on. But if Steele’s contract is what’s standing between the Cowboys and retaining Pickens another year, then it’s probably time to pull of the Band-Aid at right tackle.

FS Malik Hooker (2026 cap savings: $6,852, 941)

In 2025 the entire Cowboys secondary was cringeworthy and veteran safety Mailk Hooker was no exception. Under contract for one more season, Hooker is set to count $8,852,941 against the salary cap in 2026. That’s a high price to pay for a player who generally just performed at an average level last season so it’s entirely possible Dallas hits reset at safety and releases Hooker a year early.

Despite the decline in play, Hooker might be a guy the Cowboys simply have to keep around. Donovan Wilson, his fellow starting safety, is a free agent and likely to be gone so Dallas already has to replace one safety. Keeping Hooker, even at a relatively high salary, might be worth it to have a steady player entrenched who’s capable of playing single high in Cover 1 and Cover 3 schemes.

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