Bengals receive a harsh reminder of their critical mistake from last offseason via anonymous NFL personnel member praising Logan Wilson

If the Cincinnati Bengals could have do-over from last season, they would likely try to handle the nose tackle situation better.

Cincinnati watched DJ Reader leave for a two-year deal with the Detroit Lions and didn't do enough to replace him. Sheldon Rankins was signed in free agency, but he was never a one-for-one replacement and flamed out. Kris Jenkins Jr. and McKinnley Jackson were drafted with top-100 picks, but neither player were true nose tackles in college. 

Failing to properly address the need in the offseason had a cascading effects on the rest of the defense, and middle linebacker Logan Wilson was one of the main victims. 

Wilson and other linebackers on the team struggled playing behind the Bengals' lackluster defensive tackle group. Injuries played a factor, but they only exacerbated the neglect the position dealt with in the offseason.

An anonymous NFC personnel evaluator pointed this out when giving Wilson recognition outside of ESPN's top 10 linebackers as polled by those in the league.

High-level performer in all facets of the position. I thought his run defense took a step back, but losing DJ Reader and the play of their DT's last year hurt them. Better in zone than man-to-man vs. tight ends and running backs, but his ability to play off QB and anticipate routes is very good and effective blitzer when called upon. — NFC personnel evaluator on Wilson