The Bengals have made a trade on deadline day, sending LB Logan Wilson to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for a 7th round pick, according to Ian Rapoport.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones hinted on Monday that there was a trade on the table that he was leaning towards pulling the trigger on. It appears that this is what he was referring to.
Wilson was originally a 3rd round pick of the Bengals in 2020, and quickly became a major part of the team’s defence. He was outstanding during the team’s run to the Super Bowl in the 2021 season, and became a team leader and defensive captain.
Unfortunately, Wilson has lost a step over the past couple of seasons, and his game has declined a little bit. While still a serviceable player, the Bengals decided to play rookie Barrett Carter in place of him, sending Wilson to the bench.
After getting benched, Wilson requested a trade, hoping to land in a situation where he will see more playing time.
The Bengals rarely give in to such requests. However, in this case, it made sense. Wilson is nearing his 30’s, his game has declined, and the Bengals defence is in a rebuilding stage. Getting something back in a trade is good asset management, given the current situation.
After this season, Wilson still has 2 years left on his contract. This trade clears up $2.684M in cap space for the 2025 season, while leaving $3M in dead money in 2025. It clears up $2.55M in cap space in 2026, while leaving behind $4M in dead money, per Andre Perrotta. The 2027 cash savings total $7.215M, according to Over the Cap.
Bengals acquire:
7th round pick
Cowboys acquire:
LB, Logan Wilson
