Logan Wilson Traded to Cowboys From Bengals for NFL Draft Pick At 2025 Deadline

The Cincinnati Bengals are trading one of their defensive leaders after all.

No, not that one.

The Bengals announced Tuesday that they traded linebacker Logan Wilson to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for a 2026 7th-round pick.

The sixth-year veteran has 46 tackles and four pass breakups through eight games in 2025. He seems to have fallen out of favor with the coaching staff. In his final three appearances, he was on the field for fewer than half of Cincinnati's defensive plays.

Wilson was sidelined for the 47-42 loss to the Chicago Bears with a calf injury.

Bengals head coach Zac Taylor lessened his role in favor of starting Barrett Carter, a decision Wilson called "surprising."

"The reason I was given was because they wanted a spark on defense. I don't know what exactly that means," he said, per The Athletic's Paul Dehner Jr. "I asked if there was anything I can do to improve and be better, and wasn't really given a great reason. That's the hardest part of the whole situation. That's not going to change who I am because of the cards I've been dealt. I'm going to continue to be a good teammate, support (Carter) with anything he needs and any help he needs. That's going to continue to be who I am."

Wilson is still under contract for two more seasons after signing a four-year, $36 million extension with the Bengals in 2023. But he clearly needed a fresh start, and Dallas can use as much defensive help as it can find.

The Bengals are the only team allowing more yards and points per game than the Cowboys. From that standpoint, this is a bit of a lateral move.

Wilson isn't the one piece who's going to single-handedly elevate Dallas' defense, either. The team's fans will be justified in wanting to see more done ahead of the deadline.

Still, Wilson's likely to get more playing time with the Cowboys, and he should be an upgrade to their linebacking corps.