The Dallas Cowboys have had a linebacker problem all season. DeMarvion Overshown has been out all season recovering from three torn ligaments in his knee, and in his stead, Jack Sanborn has been one-dimensional in the middle, to put it nicely.
Sanborn has done well defending the run but has been a disaster in the passing game, leaving the Cowboys to potentially look for a change before the Nov. 4 trade deadline. That makes Thursday's latest trade rumor, reported by ESPN's Adam Schefter, a potentially massive win for the Cowboys.
"Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Logan Wilson has requested a trade, a source told ESPN on Thursday," Schefter wrote. "The sixth-year player has started in all seven of his appearances this season. However, the team captain has seen his role reduced over the course of the season. Rookies Barrett Carter and Demetrius Knight Jr. have received the bulk of the team's defensive snaps."
Wilson doesn't fit in Cincinnati any longer; however, he's a match with Dallas in more ways than one.
Cowboys Could Use Leader Like Logan Wilson
Help on the way would be nothing but good news for Dallas's defense. The Cowboys have one of the best offenses in the league, one that has outgained every other team in the league. Only the Indianapolis Colts have scored more points.
Yet, the team is only 3-3-1 because the Carolina Panthers hung 30 on them, among other reasons, but not among any worse ones. It's hard to blame the defense on the losses to the Philadelphia Eagles and Chicago Bears when the offense couldn't reach 21 points, but giving up 40 to the Green Bay Packers in their tie wasted a 319 passing yard, three-touchdown effort from quarterback Dak Prescott.
In other words, some pride on defense would be nice.
Wilson helped bring a winning culture to the Bengals for several years in a rollercoaster era. There's no reason to think he wouldn't do the same for the Cowboys, who are nearing the other side of the hill on key injuries across defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus's unit.
Wilson also brings playoff experience to the table. He's made seven postseason appearances with the Bengals (including a Super Bowl LVI appearance), racking up a whopping 41 solo tackles, three broken-up passes, one interception, and a forced fumble. That's the type of experience that could help the Cowboys down the stretch, especially once Overshown has returned to form, too.
Considering Wilson would be a good fit for most playoff contenders, the Cowboys should prioritize trading for him to bolster their LB room before it's too late.