Fresh off a shocking loss to their rejuvenated arch-rivals, the New York Giants , in Week 1, the Dallas Cowboys are licking their wounds. To be blunt, the Cowboys' defense got run over, allowing 394 total yards, including 165 on the ground, in a 28-20 loss that actually flattered Dallas.
Moreover, they suffered key injuries, including linebacker DeMarvion Overshown , which may force the Cowboys into the free-agent market to plug some holes. Coincidentally, an 11-time All-Pro is a free agent looking for a job. But would he be a fit? Opinions are mixed.
The New Giants exploited the Dallas Cowboys' weakness up the middle to full effect, with Cam Skattebo bulldozing his way to success at will, and quarterback Jaxson Dart efficiently finding soft spots in their coverage with pinpoint accuracy.
How the Cowboys address that moving forward remains a question. Cowboys LB Overshown strained a hamstring, almost certainly ruling him out for 1-2 weeks, leaving them light at linebacker. Furthermore, Dee Winters struggled mightily in coverage, leading many to believe they need a veteran presence in their defense.
As a result, speculation has arisen that they may turn to 36-year-old, 11-time All-Pro Bobby Wagner , still a free agent. Adding to the connection is his close relationship with head coach Brian Schottenheimer.
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Bleacher Report's Alex Kay fueled this speculation, naming him the best fit for the Cowboys. Reporter Ed Werder also suggested Wagner's addition, believing this move would solve their communication issues on defense.
Some NFL fans reacted by suggesting this deal would be a mistake. A Commanders fan replied to Werder's tweet, saying: "You don't want that."
Another Commanders fan tagged his team in his reply, saying with a laughing emoji: " Commanders , should we tell him??"
An NFL fan brutally jumped on Werder's suggestion of better communication: "Yeah, they could communicate how bad Bobby Wagner is in 2026."
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Meanwhile, another NFL fan recalled that the Commanders didn't want him back : "Didn't he play for a Washington team that finished 5-12? And they didn't want him back. Some would speculate the Commanders chose to go younger and more athletic at the position, rather than simply not wanting him back."
However, another Commanders fan argued that their pass defense couldn't look any worse than it did against the Giants, even if he is a liability: "That's true. He's a liability in the pass game, but it's not like their defense could get any worse than it looked against the Giants."
Despite criticism from Commanders fans regarding his coverage skills, Wagner played well in 2025, finishing with 162 combined tackles, 4.5 sacks, and 2 interceptions, earning a Pro Bowl selection and ranking No.16 in PFN's Linebacker Impact.
As long as he was used purely as a run-stopping linebacker on early downs, the Cowboys could do a lot worse. However, at 36, with diminished sideline-to-sideline skills and coverage issues, he would not be an every-down middle linebacker at this stage of his career. Jerry Jones will need to weigh this when deciding on Wagner.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network .
