Bengals suddenly look a little smarter for their rare midseason trade following recent development
Linebacker Logan Wilson was benched by the Cowboys just six games after the Bengals traded him.
It’s been two months since the Cincinnati Bengals traded linebacker Logan Wilson to the Dallas Cowboys, and even longer since he lost his starting gig with the team that drafted him all the way back in 2020.
Wilson, who was named a Bengals’ team captain before the start of the season, was benched by Cincinnati in Week 6 for rookie fourth-round pick Barrett Carter. He came off the bench for three weeks, but requested a trade during that timeframe. His request was surprisingly honored, and the Cowboys acquired him for a seventh-round pick.
The Bengals almost never make midseason trades, and it seemed like they didn’t get much value in return for a player who started 65 games for them over six years. Dallas’ decision during its Christmas Day win over the Washington Commanders now makes that price look quite all right from Cincinnati’s perspective.
Cowboys bench Logan Wilson six games after trading for him
Wilson only started one of the six games he’s suited up for the Cowboys this season, but he averaged 28.3 snaps per game in those contests.
He played zero snaps in Week 17 despite dressing as an active player, meaning he’s been benched twice this year by two different teams.
Wilson never rode the bench for an entire game when he was active for the Bengals. Even as a rookie, he managed to rotate in for at least 40% of the games most of the time. At his peak, he would never leave the field as the MIKE linebacker with the green communication dot on his helmet.
It’s been a tough stretch for Wilson on his new team. He possesses Pro Football Focus’ seventh-lowest defense grade among LBs with at least 100 snaps since he made his Dallas debut in Week 11.
Wilson still has two more years left on the contract extension he signed with Cincinnati in 2023, but the Cowboys can release him without taking on any dead cap. Being benched with two games left in a lost season isn’t a guarantee that will happen, but it’s some heavy foreshadowing if nothing else.
A seventh-round pick isn’t much in return, but the Bengals getting anything for Wilson now looks pretty smart.
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