After trading veteran linebacker Logan Wilson to the Dallas Cowboys on Tuesday, the Cincinnati Bengals are now firmly situated with eight draft picks that they can utilize in the spring. The move signals a clear shift in strategy for a team in freefall. Just hours before the trade window officially closes, the struggling Bengals are already looking ahead to next year’s draft. This decision comes as no surprise, considering they have lost six of their last seven games and are quickly falling behind in the AFC North race.
Even after trading for Joe Flacco to stabilize the quarterback position following Joe Burrow’s toe injury and Jake Browning’s mediocrity, Cincinnati just hasn’t been able to find its footing.
Why Is Cincinnati Pivoting to the NFL Draft?
The Bengals will have to drastically retool a defense that currently ranks at the bottom of the league in nearly every category. The team is 32nd in total yards allowed, 31st in passing yards allowed, 32nd in rushing yards allowed, and 32nd in average points allowed per game. The best way to kick-start that rebuilding process is by acquiring homegrown talent through the draft.
Following the trade with the Cowboys, Wilson, a former third-round pick of the Bengals in 2020, netted a seventh-round selection for Cincinnati.
According to Tankathon, the Bengals currently hold the No. 8 overall pick in the first round. They also have second, third, and fourth-round selections, along with two picks in the sixth round and now two in the seventh.
How Did Logan Wilson’s Role Change on Defense?
Across 76 games with the Bengals, Wilson logged 65 starts and became a full-time fixture at linebacker. During his tenure, he snagged 11 interceptions, defended 25 passes, and registered 5.5 sacks and 541 total tackles.
However, over the past few weeks, Wilson had gradually become an afterthought, even while playing for a unit that could certainly use any reinforcement it could get. In the Bengals’ first six games, Wilson never played fewer than 42 snaps on defense, averaging 60.8 snaps per game. In their last three games, however, he played just 58 total snaps as the team opted to turn its attention to fourth-round rookie Barrett Carter.
There’s no telling what his role will be with the Cowboys, but he’s going to have every opportunity to carve one out. The Cowboys’ defense hasn’t had much to write home about, either, especially not after Monday night’s loss to the Arizona Cardinals.
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In that game, Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett picked their defense apart, completing 21 of his 31 pass attempts for 261 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Meanwhile, running backs Emari Demercado and Zonovan Knight combined for 125 yards from scrimmage. Another second-level defender may not be the missing piece, but at this point, beggars can’t be choosers.