The Cincinnati Bengals have had a rough start to the year. After star quarterback Joe Burrow left Week 2 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Bengals have lost four of their last five games.
Cincinnati traded for veteran quarterback Joe Flacco ahead of Week 6 and he ended the Bengals' losing streak in Week 7 with a win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
However, with Cincinnati at 3-4, and leaning on younger players, their team captain on defense may be on the move at the trade deadline.
Four contenders who could target Logan Wilson
Bengals' linebacker Logan Wilson has played his entire six-year NFL career in Cincinnati, but that could be coming to an end soon.
"The Bengals are going younger at linebacker, relegating Wilson to a reserve role in favor of rookie Barrett Carter despite Wilson's status as a team captain," ESPN's Jeremy Fowler wrote. "Teams I've talked to believe the Bengals are open to dealing Wilson, whose base salary is $5.4 million this season. Next year, Wilson has a base of $6 million."
Wilson signed a four-year, $36 million rookie extension with the Bengals in 2023, and has two years left on his contract.
Logan Wilson and Christian Harris would be two names I’d target if I were the #Cowboys if they needed a starting linebacker.
The article mentions Dallas as a “team fit” for both, but that does not mean the Cowboys are confirmed interested in these players.#DallasCowboys https://t.co/DSg95R8JnM pic.twitter.com/O80oewzhvf
— Brandon Loree (@Brandoniswrite) October 22, 2025
However, with the rough start to the Bengals' season and a decreased role, there are some contenders who could target the veteran linebacker.
The Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49ers, Buffalo Bills and Indianapolis Colts are all playoff contenders who might pursue Wilson.
The Cowboys' defense has been atrocious in 2025, and the 49ers are down star linebacker Fred Warner for the season. The Bills defense has struggled mightily as well, and the Colts could add Wilson to bolster what's been an incredible defense to start the year.
"I can look back at this time of adversity and be able to tell my kids how to work through adversity like this."
The Bengals are starting rookie Barrett Carter at LB, over veteran Logan Wilson.
Logan said he put his arm around Carter & said:
"There's gonna be no hard feelings… pic.twitter.com/pA7g7Op9UB
— Caleb Noe (@CalebNoeTV) October 14, 2025
"Wilson is a three-down defender with the coverage instincts and range to impact the pass defense," ESPN's Matt Bowen. "He has 11 interceptions and 11 pass breakups over his career, plus he has averaged seven tackles per game during his five-plus seasons.
"Wilson would be an upgrade for multiple teams in the middle of the defense."
The Bengals linebacker has started 65 games in career and has more than 500 career tackles.
Spectacular coverage from Logan Wilson on this stick nod. Shuts it down entirely in structure and then is able to get a hand on the ball for a PBU during the scramble drill. pic.twitter.com/qjDWsRahKX
— mike (@bengals_sans) October 17, 2025
Wilson is a captain for the Bengals and would bring leadership experience to any contending team he'd be traded to.
ESPN predicts there is a 60 percent chance Wilson gets traded.
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