Honestly, looking at the Dallas Cowboys' secondary right now is a bit like watching a high-stakes poker game where everyone is bluffing. You’ve got big names, massive contracts, and then you have Donovan Wilson. He’s the guy who doesn’t always make the highlight reel for a 100-yard pick-six, but if you play Individual Defensive Player (IDP) fantasy leagues, he’s basically your best friend—or your biggest headache.
If you're searching for Donovan Wilson ADP (Average Draft Position) as we head into the 2026 season, you're likely noticing a weird trend. His stock is all over the place. Some experts have him ranked as a top-15 safety, while others are jumping ship because of his age and a recent string of "did not practice" designations. It's a mess. But if you want to win your league, you have to look past the raw numbers.
The Reality of the Donovan Wilson ADP "Dip"
Most casual fans see a 30-year-old safety with a hip injury and run the other way. That’s why his Donovan Wilson ADP has been sliding into the later rounds of drafts recently. But here is the thing: Wilson is a "box safety" in the truest sense. He isn't out there to be a lockdown corner; he’s there to hit people. Hard.
In 2025, he racked up 71 total tackles in just 15 games. That’s solid production, even if his PFF grades were, frankly, kind of ugly.
"Wilson is the perfect example of the divergence that sometimes emerges between on-field performance and fantasy results." - RotoWire
Basically, a player can play "bad" real-world football—missing assignments or giving up deep balls—but still be a fantasy god because they are constantly cleaning up messes and recording tackles. That is Wilson's bread and butter.
Why the 2026 Outlook is Tricky
It's no secret that the Cowboys' coaching staff has been side-eyeing the younger guys like Juanyeh Thomas and Markquese Bell. Wilson is in the final year of his deal, and there’s a real "changing of the guard" vibe in Dallas.
If you're drafting him, you're betting on his experience keeping him on the field for 90% of snaps. If that snap count drops to 60%, his value evaporates. He’s a high-volume, low-efficiency player. You need that volume.
Breaking Down the 2025 Production
- Total Tackles: 71 (39 solo, 32 assisted)
- Interceptions: 2 (surprisingly high for a guy who usually plays near the line)
- Forced Fumbles: 1
- Health: Missed two games with a hip issue late in the year.
Is He Still an IDP Starter?
You’ve gotta be careful here. In standard IDP formats, Wilson usually sits around the DB30 to DB40 range. However, if your league rewards tackles heavily, he jumps up.
Most people get wrong that they treat all safeties the same. You don't want a "free safety" who spends the whole game 20 yards deep; you want a guy like Wilson who is basically a glorified linebacker. Despite the age concerns, he still possesses that "nose for the ball" that made him a breakout star back in 2022 when he had over 100 tackles and 5 sacks.
The sacks haven't been there lately, though. He had 0 sacks in 2025. That hurts his ceiling. Without those "splash plays" like sacks and forced fumbles, he relies entirely on tackle volume to stay relevant.
🔗 Read more: Why Use a Pro Football Mock Draft Simulator When You Can Just Watch the Highlights?
The Hip Injury Factor
Don't ignore the injury reports. Throughout December 2025 and January 2026, Wilson was a constant fixture on the injury list with a hip problem. While he played through it in Week 17 and Week 18 against the Giants, it clearly limited his explosion. A safety who can't move laterally is a liability in the NFL, and the Cowboys know it.
If you see his Donovan Wilson ADP climbing back into the middle rounds, let someone else take that risk. But if he falls into the "flyer" territory at the end of your draft? Grab him.
Actionable Strategy for Your Draft
Stop looking at the name and start looking at the depth chart. If the Cowboys don't draft a safety early this April, Wilson's path to 900+ snaps is clear.
- Wait for the slide: Do not reach for Wilson. His name value is higher than his current production.
- Handicap the backups: If you draft Wilson, you almost have to grab Markquese Bell as a handcuff. If Wilson gets benched or his hip gives out, Bell is the immediate beneficiary.
- Check the scoring: If your league gives 2+ points per solo tackle, Wilson is a mid-tier starter. If it’s big-play heavy (sacks/INTs), he’s a bench stash at best.
- Watch the preseason: The Cowboys are notorious for playing veterans in the preseason just to "show they still have it." If Wilson is getting beat by rookies in August, move him down your board.
The "mailto: adp" search queries usually come from people trying to automate their draft boards or export data from sites like FantasyPros. If that's you, make sure your script is pulling the rest of season projections and not just historical data. 2022 Donovan Wilson isn't coming back, but 2026 Donovan Wilson is still a very capable "glue guy" for a winning fantasy roster.