The Dallas Cowboys' hiring of new coordinator Christian Parker will be followed with a look at what exactly the 34-year-old coaching talent wants the 2026 defense to look like.
In the coming months during this free agency cycle and the NFL Draft, Dallas' actions will tell us a lot about Parker, head coach Brian Schottenheimer, and owner/general manager Jerry Jones' visions for the team in 2026.
This week, there was conversation about a particular vision in the center of the defense related to DeMarvion Overshown, the talented linebacker who is still working through the injuries that have derailed his potential to this point.
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As a whole, that linebacker group will be one that requires a lot of remodeling. Other than Overshown, youngsters Marist Liufau and Shemar James offer upside at the position, but both still have a ways to go before solidifying a full-time starting role.
The unit, which most featured Kenneth Murray Jr. and Jack Sanborn (plus the recently-cut Logan Wilson) was among the Cowboys' most low-performing groups on its treacherous defense. The group will likely see an external addition this free agency that helps to steady the ship.
Pro Football Focus has one in mind: six-time All-Pro First-Teamer and this year's Walter Payton Man of the Year honoree Bobby Wagner, who's spent the last two years with the rival Washington Commanders.
Wagner, 35, is nothing more than a short-term rental, but his veteran experience and leadership could bode well for Parker, who may be relying on accountability and trust just as much as on-field production. Both of those would be brought in a guy like Wagner, which is why he's connected to Dallas as a potential landing spot at the end of his free agency this summer.
Wagner previously a staple on dominant Seattle Seahawks defenses, but has been on three teams in the last four years as he enters the twilight of his future Hall of Fame career. But that doesn't mean he's seen a significant dip in talent or availability. That's a testament to his athletic longevity and flexibility in adjusting to new coaches and scheme philosophies.
The 14-year vet has started all but two games he's appeared in throughout his career and has not missed a game in the last four seasons. As recent as 2023, he led the league in tackles with a career-high 183.
In 2025, he was steady with 162 takedowns, 4.5 sacks, two interceptions and four batted passes. PFF notes his run defense, pass rushing and tackling all grading at elite status above 90.0 on its metric.
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Dallas' recent gambles on a veteran linebacker like this - Murray and Eric Kendricks - weren't successful, so there remains some cause for concern. In all fairness, however, neither Murray or Kendricks' careers mount to anything close to Wagner's, which makes the latter as safe a bet as there is at the position this offseason.
Wagner has made 10 Pro Bowls, won a Super Bowl with the Seahawks, and at just a $7.7 million market value per Spotrac, will be one of the best bargain buys across free agency.
No player offers as much production or character benefits at that price as Wagner, and for a Cowboys team that has higher-priority contracts still to solve and yet another new coordinator running things, this type of signing could be instrumental to an immediate defensive turnaround.