Jerry Jones made a promise, and with the trade deadline looming, he delivered. The Dallas Cowboys have acquired linebacker Logan Wilson from the Cincinnati Bengals for a seventh-round pick. For a franchise that has struggled to stop anyone all season, this move is both a necessary adjustment and a significant gamble.
How Will Logan Wilson Impact the Cowboys’ Struggling Defense?
Cincinnati Bengals Logan Wilson
Wilson has become one of the best coverage linebackers in the entire NFL.
Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images
After claiming a deal was in the works to strengthen his team, Jerry Jones made a significant move on Tuesday, acquiring Logan Wilson. The timing could not be more critical, as the Cowboys sit at 3-5-1 with the league’s second-weakest defense, a stunning fall for a unit that once showcased its defensive muscle. The trouble began back in August when Dallas shipped two-time All-Pro Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers. Ever since that trade, the front seven has been in disarray.
Enter Logan Wilson, a veteran who has been with the Cincinnati Bengals since 2020. Despite seeing limited action this season, the star still managed to accumulate over 60 tackles and was one of the few elite players on the Bengals’ roster before he requested a trade. His sharp instincts and reliable tackling are his greatest strengths, which are exactly what the Cowboys have been missing this season, especially with Kenneth Murray Jr. consistently missing assignments.
Those skills stand in stark contrast to Murray’s performance, who is earning $7 million this season. Murray has been a liability, allowing a 113.8 passer rating in coverage and posting a dismal PFF grade of 39.7, making the linebacker position a clear weak link. By swapping Murray’s inconsistency for Wilson’s discipline, the Cowboys are hoping to find the defensive stability they have lacked all year.
For his part, Jerry Jones is optimistic. He praised Wilson’s ability “to see a key and step up in the hole,” pointing to the exact reaction skills needed to tighten the team’s gaps. However, not everyone shares that confidence. During ESPN’s Monday Night Football broadcast, Cowboys legend Troy Aikman joked that “one player won’t make a difference” for a defense that looks completely lost.
Despite the skepticism, this trade is about more than just numbers. It sends a clear message that the Cowboys are not giving up on the season. Wilson will not transform them into a top-tier contender overnight, but his presence may restore the tough, disciplined identity the defense has missed since Parsons departed. With Dallas fighting to stay relevant in a crowded NFC playoff picture, that energy shift could be precisely the boost the team needs.