Just under two weeks after requesting a trade following his demotion to reserve linebacker on a historically bad defense, Logan Wilson is on the move to another bad defense.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Cincinnati Bengals are trading linebacker Logan Wilson to the Dallas Cowboys. Wilson previously requestioned a trade October 23. Now, he’s off to Dallas to try and help shore up another struggling defense.
The former third-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft out of Wyoming developed into a standout linebacker for a stretch with the Bengals, leading the team in tackles in the 2021, 2022 and 2023 seasons, helping lead the Bengals to the Super Bowl in 2021.
Thanks to his play in that three-year stretch, Wilson earned a sizable four-year, $36 million extension from the Bengals ahead of the 2023 season, making him one of the highest-paid off-ball linebackers in the NFL at the time.
Last season with the Bengals he struggled with injuries, missing the final six games of the season. Then, the Bengals made a defensive coordinator change, firing Lou Anarumo and hiring Al Golden for the 2025 season. Wilson entered the year as the starter and was named a captain once again, but saw his role start to diminish.
On the season, Wilson had 46 tackles, four passes defensed and one fumble recovery with the Bengals. Now, he heads to Dallas where he’s expected to step in right away under coordinator Matt Eberflus to help a struggling Dallas defense. The Cowboys lost on Monday Night Football to the Arizona Cardinals, 27-17.
Wilson played 362 snaps for the Bengals this season and has a grade of 54.8 overall from Pro Football Focus. Throughout his career he’s thrived as a coverage linebacker, generating 11 interceptions in his time with the Bengals. But this season, he’s allowed 19 receptions on 25 targets for 202 yards and two touchdowns.
With his demotion, the Bengals have been leaning on a pair of rookies in second-round pick Demetrius Knight Jr. and fourth-round pick Barrett Carter under Golden. The Bengals find themselves on a much-needed bye week sitting at 3-6 on the season after dropping back-to-back crushing losses to the New York Jets and Chicago Bears, both in the final seconds, 39-38 and 47-42.
The Bengals return to action in Week 11 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. In the last matchup in Week 7 on Thursday Night Football, the Bengals beat the Steelers in a thriller, 33-31.
We’ll see if more moves are coming for the Bengals. Fellow defensive player McKinnley Jackson also made a trade request recently.
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