There was a time when the Cleveland Browns’ linebacker room was quite full. That is no longer the case. While Carson Schwesinger had a terrific year and has provided stability and a reliable tackler, along with league awards, the other positions are currently in flux.
And as the free agency period approaches on March 9, there is a new guy that Cleveland GM Andrew Berry might consider signing: LB Logan Wilson.
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Wilson was released by the Dallas Cowboys on Friday. He is a linebacker with six years of experience. The Browns are in need of warm bodies in the linebacker room. Does this situation make sense for Cleveland to sign Wilson?
Currently, the linebacker room consists of Easton Mascarenas-Arnold, Bookie Watson, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, and Schwesinger. That’s it. And the status of JOK returning this season remains up in the air. On the free agent list is a ton of talent, such as Devin Bush, Mohamoud Diabate, Winston Reid, Edefuan Ulofoshio, and Jerome Baker.
Browns GM Andrew Berry can re-sign any of the players on the free agent list, but so far, no information has been given. The squad may lose them all.
This makes signing Wilson (6’-2”, 245 pounds) a move that could be made now. He played for the Cincinnati Bengals for five years, so the Browns are well-versed on his playing career and abilities. He was selected in the third round of the 2020 NFL draft out of Wyoming after being named First Team All-Mountain West Conference his final year, then participated in the Senior Bowl. His tackle numbers in college were 94, 119, 103, and 105.
Wilson, age 29, is known for his big tackling numbers. In his NFL career, he has registered four seasons of 100+ tackles, including 135 in 2023. That same season, he inked a four-year, $36 million extension as his rookie contract was set to expire.
He is known for reading quarterbacks and finding good holes for run support. He is a reliable tackler with 43 missed tackles during his entire career.
The Bengals shipped him off to the Dallas Cowboys at the trade deadline last year. His Pro Football Focus grades were:
- 2025: 52.6
- 2024: 72.3
- 2023: 62.6
- 2022: 76.4
- 2021: 54.7
- 2020: 54.7
Wilson has a reputation for being a reliable, high-volume tackler who has very good coverage skills. All of his PFF grades rank him high in pass defense. He has 11 career picks.
He began the 2025 season as one of the starters along with rookie Demetrius Knight out of South Carolina, but was benched beginning in Week 6. Wilson was not only the Captain, but he also wore the green dot. He couldn’t get a straight answer as to why he was not playing full-time any longer, except that the DC wanted “a spark” created on defense.
According to Charlie Goldsmith of FOX 19, Wilson stated:
“I don’t know exactly what [spark] means. When I asked if there was anything I could do to improve and be better, I wasn’t really given a great reason. That’s the hardest part about the whole situation. I’m not going to change who I am because of the cards I’ve been dealt.”
Wilson is still a young man, although he is approaching that 30th threshold. He is a team-first player, but has lost some of his ability at the point of attack. He is sideline to sideline, with pre-draft speed of 4.63.
For his NFL career, Wilson has played in 83 games with 66 starts, 565 total tackles (including four consecutive seasons of 100+), 5.5 sacks, 19 tackles for loss, 18 QB hits, 7 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries, 26 batted passes, 11 interceptions, 8 hurries, 12 knockdowns, and 27 pressures.
His contract amount with Dallas was supposed to be $6.52 million with no guaranteed money. The Cowboys are in the midst of an offseason overhaul of the defense, including a new DC. Last year, Dallas allowed the most points and had the fewest interceptions. Wilson played eight games with the Cowboys before his release.