Monday could be a big day for the Dallas Cowboys for two different and important reasons including a potential starting player release

The thick of the offseason is in the rearview mirror for the Dallas Cowboys and the NFL world as teams' voluntary activities heat up in preparation for the 2025 season. However, one key date is closing in that could spark some movement across the league. 

June 1. 

Though free agency started in March and the NFL Draft was over by the end of April, the first day of June remains an important one due to salary cap benefits that exist for players released or traded after said day. Financially, being released or traded after June 1 means the dead money caused by the transaction is spread over two seasons, as opposed to all of it on the ongoing year. 

Now granted, players can be released before June 1 with a "Post-June 1" designation and the team still receives the cap benefits. In other words, if the Cowboys wanted to move on from a player with such a benefit, they could've done so long ago. However, the date is still important because it's uncommon for cuts to happen long after the date. 

It's also important because Post-June 1 designations do not exist for trades, which means if a team wants to deal away a player while not taking on a lot of dead money, they must wait until June 2 to execute the trade if it wants the cap benefit. 

With all that being said, let's dive into two reasons why Monday, June 2 could turn out to be a big day for the Cowboys. Let's start on the trade front. 

1. Jalen Ramsey trade rumors

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported the Cowboys were potential suitors for the three-time All-Pro cornerback, who is expected to be traded by the Miami Dolphins. With a projected cost of a fifth-rounder, it's possible that winds up being true even though multiple insiders have suggested Dallas isn't in the sweepstakes for him. 

If Ramsey is traded, it would likely happen after June 1 considering the Dolphins could then receive cap savings. Over the Cap projects a post-June 1 trade to open almost $10 million in cap space for Miami. 

I doubt thew Cowboys end up pulling the trigger but if it's going to happen, it will be a post-June 1 move. 

2. Can safety Donovan Wilson survive a roster cut? 

Since early in the offseason, Wilson has been considered one of the likeliest cap casualties on the team. The Cowboys are particularly deep at safety with Juanyeh Thomas and Markquese Bell showing real potential off the bench in the past. Bell even became a starter at linebacker in 2023 showing promising potential and standing out in coverage. The Cowboys also guaranteed $259,000 to UDFA Alijah Clark, a versatile DB out of Syracuse. 

Wilson has been good for the Cowboys and he fit Dan Quinn's and Mike Zimmer's scheme well. But if cut post-June 1, Wilson would open up $7 million in cap savings, per Over the Cap. Now granted, the Cowboys would've gotten the same benefit this time of the year had they used a post-June 1 release designation in March. 

But now that they've seen what their safety room looks like in OTAs, they'll probably look into the possibility once again before making a final decision. The fact that he's still on the roster suggests they're hesitant to part ways though.