Dallas Cowboys safety Donovan Wilson. Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

Cowboys re-sign safety Donovan Wilson to three-year deal

By Clark Dalton | Last updated Mar 14, 2023 2:21 PM ET

The Cowboys finally made a move in free agency, and it keeps their defensive foundation intact.

Per NFL Network's Mike Garafolo, Dallas agreed to re-sign safety Donovan Wilson to a three-year deal worth up to $24M with the first two years fully guaranteed ($13.5M).

The #Cowboys have agreed to terms to re-sign S Donovan Wilson to a three-year deal worth up to $24 million with the first two years fully guaranteed ($13.5 million), sources say. The deal was confirmed by Wilson’s agents Kevin Conner and Robert Brown of @UniSportsMgmt. pic.twitter.com/8EhQa17b5m
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 14, 2023

Wilson led Dallas in tackles last season with 101. Also, according to ESPN's Todd Archer, he led NFL defensive backs in sacks with five.

Retaining the 28-year-old was crucial because the defense relied on depth at safety provided by Wilson, Malik Hooker and Jayron Kearse.

Former Cowboy safety Darren Woodson, a three-time Super Bowl champ with Dallas, recently praised the group.

"This is the best safety group I've seen this team have," Woodson said.

The signing is a big win for Dallas, which led the NFL in takeaways (33) for a second consecutive season and ranked sixth in points allowed in 2022.

It could signal the Cowboys plan to retain players they have drafted and developed, including free-agent linebacker Leighton Vander Esch.

The former Pro Bowler has not agreed to re-sign and could have other offers. Vander Esch was second in tackles (90) on the team last season --production Dallas needs in 2023.

Clark Dalton

Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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