Logan Wilson came up as a trade candidate this week, being mentioned as a player who could move after the Bengals reduced his role. Now, Wilson can be added to the growing list of recent-years Bengals to have asked to be moved.
The veteran linebacker has requested a trade, ESPN.com’s Ben Baby reports. Although Wilson has started all seven Cincinnati games this season, rookies Demetrius Knight and Barrett Carter have cut into his role. Wilson is tied to a four-year, $36MM contract, a deal that runs through the 2027 season.
Since 2023, the Bengals have received trade requests from Jonah Williams, Tee Higgins, Trey Hendrickson and Germaine Pratt. Not known as being particularly accommodating on the trade or contract fronts, the team gave into none of those asks. Williams played out his contract year — at right tackle, after the team signed Orlando Brown Jr. — and left as a 2024 free agent. Requesting a trade in March 2024, Higgins played last season on the franchise tag. Although Hendrickson trade drama did not become lead NFL story until this offseason, the All-Pro defensive end submitted his request in 2024. It did not move the needle. Weeks after Pratt requested a trade, the Bengals cut him.
The Pratt release came after the Bengals drafted both Knight (Round 2) and Carter (Round 4). With Wilson still rostered, those selections marginalized Pratt, who is now on his third team of the year (Bengals, Raiders, Colts). Carter has usurped Wilson in the Bengals’ linebacking hierarchy, playing 100% of the team’s defensive snaps over the past two games. Knight has held a steadier role this season, and he played almost every snap over Cincinnati’s past two contests.
A mainstay at linebacker since the Bengals drafted him in the 2020 third round, Wilson played 100% of the team’s defensive snaps in Week 5. Over the past two games, however, his usage has dipped considerably. Wilson played 19.7% of Cincy’s defensive snaps in Week 6 and 45.6% of the plays in Week 7. Al Golden has pivoted to the rookies on his second level, leaving Wilson as a part-timer. Not long after that switch, the sixth-year veteran is attempting to force the issue.
While the Bengals are famous for not budging in these situations, a report this week indicated they would be open to dealing Wilson. The former Super Bowl starter signed a four-year, $36MM extension during the 2023 offseason, doing so weeks after the Bengals re-signed Pratt. With Lou Anarumo now in Indianapolis, the Bengals changed up at linebacker. Wilson (65 career starts) is tied to a $5.37MM base salary this season.
More to come.