The Dallas Cowboys have lost over a dozen players on defense in the last 12 months, and while there have been a few interesting additions, one of the latest rumors links them to a soon-to-turn-36 linebacker.

The Cowboys are looking at 36-year-old linebacker Bobby Wagner, according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz.

“Like a few players lingering on the free-agent market, linebacker Bobby Wagner is nearing the end of his career. He'll turn 36 in June, but he is planning to play his 15th NFL season in 2026.”

Bobby Wagner is one of the most decorated linebackers in NFL history. Drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the second round of the 2012 NFL draft, he became a key part of Seattle’s legendary “Legion of Boom” defense and won the Super Bowl in 2013.

He is a 10-time Pro Bowler who has recorded 2,000 tackles and 39.5 sacks. After 11 seasons with the Seahawks, he had a brief stint with the Los Angeles Rams and moved to the Washington Commanders for the last two seasons.

Though at 35, questions may arise over his age and durability, the veteran had his best tackle tally (183) just a couple of years ago in his last season for Seattle. Moreover, he's only missed one NFL game in the last four years.

Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox says that Wagner could still be a valuable linebacker based on his output the previous season.

"Wagner can still man the linebacker position better than most. This past season, he racked up 162 tackles, 4.5 sacks, eight tackles for loss, four passes defended, and two interceptions," Knox noted.

The Cowboys are in desperate need of a linebacker to add to their roster, and the experience of Wagner could prove to help their ailing defense.

Since losing Micah Parsons last year, team owner Jerry Jones' efforts to fill the void left have been unsuccessful so far, with their latest failed attempt involving a Philadelphia Eagles star.

The Cowboys miss out on Nakobe Dean to the Las Vegas Raiders

The Dallas Cowboys were actively pursuing Philadelphia Eagles’ linebacker Nakobe Dean, one of their targets in free agency. Dean, however, chose to sign with the Las Vegas Raiders instead of division rivals, the Cowboys.

Dean reportedly cited “a gut feeling” for his decision to go with the Raiders, as the 2022 Round 3 pick leaves his only NFL franchise thus far.

“He was one of [the Cowboys’] 5 zooms allowed. I’m told their offer was similar to the Raiders', but ultimately, he went with his gut feeling, and was told he could have seen himself in both places, and it was a “51/49” margin, but the Raiders won this one," Jane Slater of the NFL Network posted on X.

Dean signed a three-year, $36 millon deal with the Raiders. Despite the Cowboys offering a similar deal to the Raiders, it came as a surprise to fans that he chose the Raiders over the Cowboys.

Now that Nakobe Dean is off the table, the Cowboys could look at veteran Bobby Wagner to fill this gap. Youngsters also remain an option as the franchise possesses two first-round picks in this year's draft.

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Written by

Shyam Hari

Edited by

Aadesh Dhote