Matt Eberflus has quickly become public enemy No. 2 in the Big D in his inaugural campaign with the Dallas Cowboys (No. 1 is obvious). It's easy to point to the team's personnel, or lack thereof, on his side of the ball. Nevertheless, the much-maligned defensive coordinator simply isn't putting the unappetizing smorgasbord of miscasts he has to work with in positions to succeed.
Cowboys Nation has seen enough, calling for Eberflus to be banished to the shadow realm. At this rate, nothing can prevent him from his inevitable fate of getting fired come year's end. Not even a midseason addition of an established field general like Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Logan Wilson will save the 55-year-old.
Landing someone of Wilson's caliber could only help Dallas, considering things can't get much worse for them. He's a multiyear starter and respected locker room leader with valuable playoff experience, though his time in Cincinnati is ostensibly running out. The Cowboys can certainly use the 2020 third-round pick, who has recently requested a trade.
Given Wilson's standing with the Bengals, age and positional value, acquiring him might come cheap; perhaps a Day 3 selection gets a deal done. His presence would be a boon to Dallas while not costing them more than, let's say, their 2025 fifth-round pick. Yet, regardless, it's too little and too late for Eberflus.
Ideal Cowboys trade for Bengals' Logan Wilson falls short in rescuing Matt Eberflus
After getting benched for rookie Barrett Carter, Wilson reportedly asked out of Cincy. Knowing this, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler and Matt Bowen have notably listed the Cowboys as a potential fit for the veteran defender's services.
Wilson remained productive before being superseded in favor of a youth movement in Week 6. He racked up 33 combined tackles, three pass deflections and a fumble recovery across the Bengals' first five games this season. His 86.9 percent defensive snap share rate during that stretch has since plummeted to 30.5 percent in their ensuing three contests, potentially foreshadowing a breakup.
Despite his current situation with the Bengals, Wilson is a proven three-down linebacker who can thrive in coverage and make plays. He's a disruptor with sideline-to-sideline tackling range. A strong 87.2 Pro Football Focus pass-rushing grade that ranks third among 76 qualified options at his position highlights an ability to get to the quarterback.
Yet, Wilson doesn't fix Eberflus' apparent reluctance to adjust his scheme to fit the players in Dallas, which has been a major talking point. Or that the locker room's losing faith, namely veteran cornerback Trevon Diggs, whose future with the club is highly questionable, though that's neither here nor there. Even Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer has publicly wondered whether one of his top lieutenants is fit for the job.