FRISCO, Texas — After falling to 3-5-1 on the season, in large part due to their defensive struggles against the Arizona Cardinals and in weeks prior, the Dallas Cowboys opted to attack the issue ahead of the NFL trade deadline, striking a deal with the Cincinnati Bengals to acquire linebacker Logan Wilson in exchange for a seventh-round pick in 2026.
Wilson, 29, is a former third-round pick of the Bengals in 2020, earning his way into the league by way of the University of Wyoming — where he earned First-Team All-MW honors. More importantly for the Cowboys, however, is the fact he serves as a potential upgrade to what ails them in the linebackers' room.
Combining him with the looming, post-bye return of DeMarvion Overshown, in conjunction with an up-and-comer in Marist Liufau and Shemar James, could potentially have things looking up somewhat for the heart of the Cowboys' defense. The team moved Jack Sanborn to injured reserve just this past weekend, and Wilson marks the second trade at linebacker this calendar year for Dallas, the first being to acquire Kenneth Murray in the offseason from the Tennessee Titans.
Wilson has 76 career games and 65 NFL starts under his belt and they're not empty reps, considering he's also produced 541 combined tackles and, hinting largely at his ability to cover, 11 interceptions through his first five-plus seasons in the league; and he is just two seasons removed from a career-high four interceptions racked up for the Bengals in 2023.
It's also key to note Wilson has proven himself mostly durable — important for a Dallas team being ravaged by injury on the defensive side of the ball. He's missed no more than six games in a season due to injury (2024), an exception to his rule when considering he doesn't often miss stretches of time.
Add in his contributions on special teams when needed, something he doesn't shy away from, and the Cowboys expect Wilson to be an immediate contributor for a roster that has no choice but to go on a run exiting the bye week if they're to somehow beat that odds and claw their way into the playoff picture.
