ARLINGTON, TEXAS — The Dallas Cowboys are back in the headlines, and this time it’s not about missed tackles or offensive miscues. According to multiple league sources, Dallas is making a major midseason push to acquire Cincinnati Bengals linebacker and team captain Logan Wilson, who recently requested a trade.
After a frustrating 3-4-1 start, the Cowboys’ defense — once feared across the league — has fallen into disarray, surrendering 250 points in just eight games. That’s the second-worst total in the entire NFL, a stunning collapse for a franchise built on defensive identity.
Meanwhile, Logan Wilson’s relationship with Cincinnati has reportedly deteriorated. Despite being named team captain for the first time this season, Wilson has seen his snaps and responsibilities dramatically reduced, a decision that insiders call “baffling” considering his consistent 100-tackle seasons since 2021.
With his role diminished and frustration growing, Wilson officially requested a trade two weeks ago — a move that immediately caught the attention of Dallas. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the Cowboys are among the top contenders to land the 29-year-old defensive leader, alongside the Bills and Colts.
Financially, the deal makes perfect sense. Wilson carries a cap hit of $8.7 million, easily absorbable within Dallas’s $31.5 million of cap space — the second most in the NFL. That flexibility could allow the Cowboys to swing a high-impact trade without jeopardizing future contracts.
Cowboys insiders say Head Coach Brian Schottenheimer has been “pounding the table” for a true defensive anchor since the offseason. With Micah Parsons traded to Green Bay and injuries to DeMarvion Overshown, the linebacker unit has been inconsistent, hesitant, and often out of position.
“This team needs leadership,” one team executive said. “Wilson’s voice and intensity could be exactly what this locker room is missing right now.”
Bengals analysts, meanwhile, believe a fourth- or fifth-round draft pick could be enough to seal the deal, given Wilson’s reduced playing time and his desire for a fresh start elsewhere.
If the trade happens, it would not just be a roster move — it would be a statement. A message from Dallas to the rest of the NFL: they are not done fighting. They are not giving up. They are ready to bring back the fire that once defined “America’s Team.”
