The NFL trade deadline on November 4, 2025 brought chaos and clarity as the Dallas Cowboys made headlines by acquiring linebacker Logan Wilson from the Cincinnati Bengals.
Dallas gave up a 2026 seventh-round pick to land Wilson, who had grown frustrated with his reduced role in Cincinnati’s defense. Wilson, 29, now steps into a Cowboys defense ranked near the bottom of the league.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones confirmed the trade on Tuesday, drawing parallels between Logan Wilson and former Dallas linebacker Leighton Vander Esch, the 2018 Pro Bowler beloved by fans.
The Cowboys want to fix a leaky defense. Wilson brings leadership, solid tackling, and playoff experience to a Cowboys squad desperate for help in the middle of the field. Dallas expects him to immediately step into a key role beside Micah Parsons as the defense looks to regain its bite.
A deal for Dallas: Cowboys are finalizing a trade to acquire Bengals MLB Logan Wilson, sources tell me and Todd Archer. Earlier Monday, Jerry Jones told Stephen A. Smith that the Cowboys have made a trade ahead of Tuesday’s NFL deadline. It is expected to be for Wilson, for whom… pic.twitter.com/lhQak0jaHG
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 4, 2025
Wilson will get a full bye week to learn the Cowboys’ defensive system before making his debut on Nov. 17 against the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday Night Football.
