Cincinnati Bengals: Logan Wilson breakout season on tap in 2021

The Cincinnati Bengals‘ 2020 NFL Draft class is shaping up to be a pretty special one. Joe Burrow is the obvious headliner as the top pick in the entire draft and Heisman Trophy winner who was coming off of arguably the greatest single season for a college football quarterback ever.

Right behind Burrow was wide receiver Tee Higgins, who was widely anticipated to be a first-round picks before a bad 40-yard dash pushed him out of the top 32 and into the Cincinnati Bengals’ laps.

With their third pick in the 2020 Draft, the Bengals took Wyoming linebacker Logan Wilson, a player who is ready to break out in a big way in the 2021 season and give Cincinnati an absolute stud at the second level of the defense.

Wilson played well in limited snaps as a rookie with the Bengals, playing 343 snaps in total and racking up 33 total tackles, four tackles for loss, two QB hits, a sack, two interceptions, and three passes defended.

Wilson also played a key role on special teams but he will be much more of a factor on the Cincinnati Bengals‘ defense in 2021.

Cincinnati Bengals: Logan Wilson breakout season

Coming out of Wyoming, Wilson was considered one of the top off-ball linebackers teams could potentially target on day two of the 2020 draft.

His combination of instincts, athleticism, and production all looked like they would lead some team into a great value.

Wilson was a machine at Wyoming with over 400 total tackles in four seasons, 10 interceptions, 34.5 tackles for loss, seven sacks, and five forced fumbles. He was the very definition of an impact player at the position and he proved in a limited sample that his traits translate to the next level.

Having had a rookie season to earn his stripes, pun fully intended, Wilson is undoubtedly ready to step into a major role in year two and become the alpha in the middle of Cincinnati’s defense.

Every NFL team is looking for linebackers with three-down value who can play the run and turn their backs to cover. Wilson has the ability to be one of the next best all-around linebackers in the NFL and he will have the 2021 season to prove that he’s on that trajectory in Cincinnati.

Although the expectations for the Bengals right now are not through the roof, by any stretch, this is a team that could really surprise some people with a talented defensive front and defensive backfield, progression from Joe Burrow (assuming he’s healthy) and the offense as a whole, and breakout performances from players like Wilson.