2 Former Cowboys Could Return to Dallas this Summer

NFL rosters are hardly set in stone at this point in the offseason, even if it feels like all the moving around of free agency has come and gone. In Dallas, this has proven especially true, as the team consistently adds talent late; this could be what brings two former Cowboys back to the roster.

I believe we’ll see the front office continuing to evaluate defense talent, in particular, throughout the 2026 season. If the inevitable injuries of the summer strike, that could move up the timeline for these two pretty quickly.

Let’s talk about this pair of former Cowboys, what they have done in the past for the team, and why they could still return despite their current free-agent status.

1. Donovan Wilson: Longtime Cowboy May Not Be Done Yet

It would genuinely feel strange watching a Dallas defense without Donovan Wilson this season. He was one of the longest-tenured Cowboys last season, having been with the team since 2019 in a variety of roles.

While it was clear he’d regressed athletically last season at age 30, he still snagged two interceptions, totaled 71 tackles, and played in 15 games.

Cam Skattebo vs. Donovan Wilson was a heavyweight fight pic.twitter.com/8HTmV0ziyI

— Mike Renner (@mikerenner_) September 15, 2025

We are also just one season removed from a 4.5 sack season from Wilson in 2024. In short, even if he isn’t the player he was at 26, he has a variety of skills that a rebuilding Dallas defense could rely on in limited doses.

If we see somebody like Malik Hooker, Jalen Thompson, or a backup safety struggle with any health issues this summer, the first external call they make could very well be to Wilson.

2. Jadeveon Clowney: Still Unsigned Key 2025 Cowboy Fills A Need

Secondly, we have the opposite of Wilson with Jadeveon Clowney. The one-time Cowboy in 2025 is not a long-tenured option, but he sure did make an impact and impression in a limited amount of time last season.

The former first overall pick in 2014 came to Dallas midseason and ended up with 8.5 sacks in just six starts. At times, it felt like Clowney was the only fun thing to watch on defense.

Despite his fantastic production and open interest in returning to the Cowboys, he remains unsigned, likely due to his age at 33. Dallas wants to give some of their younger, long-term options a shot, and you have to respect that, but that doesn’t mean a window can’t open for Clowney to return.

If these guys struggle or if we see one or two get banged up this summer, Clowney could return with a new chip on his shoulder.