Logan Wilson’s linebackers room has been re-made with last weekend's draft, and like the true pro that he is, he reached out to the two rookies as soon as head coach Zac Taylor texted him the phone numbers for second-rounder Demetrius Knight Jr. and fourth-rounder Barrett Carter.

"The right thing to do is welcome the young rookie to your team," Wilson said during a break in Monday's offseason workouts. "Let them know you're happy they're part of the team to help us move forward as a unit. If I was in their shoes, I would want a leader of the team to reach out to me as well."

Right tackle Amarius Mims and his size 15s aren't exactly in the same shoes since he was drafted only last year.

But Mims also got on the horn quickly Friday night because the Bengals drafted his Georgia linemate Dylan Fairchild in the third round, and he already had the number in his phone. He couldn't have been any quicker than the man himself.

"I remember exactly how long [head coach] Zac [Taylor] talked to me, so when they drafted him, I timed it," Mims said. "I got him right away."

It's assumed Mims greeted Fairchild by calling him "Pickle," the nickname he inexplicably gave him when they were freshmen in Athens.

"Brock Bowers came in and he just got a haircut, and they screwed up his hair and pushed back his hairline," Mims said. "I said, 'You look like a Stanley,' and it stuck. He's under "Stanley," in my phone.

"We were freshmen, and we didn't know anything. We were boneheads. I said I've got to come up with something for Dylan. I just said something looking at him. 'Pickle D.' I don't know why. It just came off the top of the dome. People laughed and 'Pickle' stuck."

Left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. says "Pickle," Fairchild can play. He not only has watched the tape, he went to dinner with Fairchild and Knight, as well as center Ted Karras Saturday night. He dined with first-round pick Shemar Stewart the night before, too.

"I love those first three guys," Brown said. "I think they're what we're all about as a team."

He's all in on Fairchild because from what Brown has seen, he agrees with the folks upstairs that his brute strength can hold up against the relentless pass rushers stalking Joe Burrow’s 38 passes per game.

"His rep as pass protector stood out, and I think that's one of the reasons we took him in the third round," Brown said. "I think his transition to the NFL is going to be smoother than he thinks because of the talent he went against and done it against. He asked all the right questions.

"One of the biggest things he asked is how to develop in this league, and my message to him was, 'Be yourself.' Have high intensity and go at it with attention to detail every day."

The famous chemistry of Taylor's locker rooms is being replenished as we speak. Mims is learning under Brown's wing, and now Mims can help guide his buddy "Pickle." When Knight, the South Carolina linebacker visited Paycor Stadium for the first time on Saturday, he revealed he has been watching Wilson on tape for the last four years.

"I didn't know he watched me," Wilson said. "The fact is, they're going to be a part of this team and we're going to need them.

"Different era, I guess you could say. That's the nature of this business. Every once in a while you go through some of these things. I just try to do my part and try to lead these guys. Help them when I can. I was raised as you're only as strong as your weakest links, so whoever that is. Guys on the practice squad who give scout team looks. They have to put forward their best foot and be able to help on special teams or whatever that is. The stronger we are there, the better off we're going to be as a team."

It's the first time the Bengals have drafted a linebacker in the five years since Wilson arrived in the third round with Akeem Davis-Gaither in the fourth and Markus Bailey in the seventh. Wilson, who turns 29 a few weeks before training camp, is the only one left. He can feel the shifting landscape that new linebackers coach Mike Hodges talked about in his room during the draft.

Hodges sees Wilson as the landmark in getting the linebacker room back to the glory days under Al Golden, Wilson's first linebackers coach and the current new coordinator. Hodges knows Golden and Wilson know each other inside, out and Hodges has studied Wilson's game in-depth. He thinks the fresh look with the kids and new system is going to help Wilson get back on track after missing the last six games of a season everyone struggled at times on defense.

"Logan is the only guy in this room who has earned a job," said Hodges with Germaine Pratt requesting a trade. "I think Logan is going to bounce back from some of his injuries and the kind of down year defensively that he was a part of. I do think we're going to maximize where he's at in his six years. The guy's a true leader."

Wilson says he's recovered from the knee issue and he's embracing learning a new scheme for the first time since he came into the league. He thinks it's going to be easier than 2020, because COVID pretty much eliminated field work until mid-August.

"I don't do great looking at Xs and Os on an iPad. I can learn only so much," Wilson said. "You have to go out and do it and replicate it and communicate it and all those different things that go along with it. I just want to stay ahead of the game so come camp time, we can hit the ground running."

When Wilson got drafted, there was no vet backer to reach out. Yes, there was Josh Bynes, but he had just become a Bengal the month before, so that would have been awkward. Pratt was barely removed from being a rookie himself.

It was defensive end Sam Hubbard who reached out with a text and an Instagram welcome, and even though Hubbard retired earlier this spring, Wilson plans to keep Hubbard in mind as he helps the kids get settled.

"I'm an open book, so if the guys want to learn how to do things like how our guy Sam Hubbard showed me the way as a rookie," Wilson said. "They bring some fresh, young juice, I guess you could say. I consider myself an old head at this point just because I'm going into year six.

"Now I just want to do my part to help the guys progress in their careers because to me, that's more important than anything I can do. Help these guys grow their games and put food on their table for their families."

Wilson may be at the head of the table now, but he's still hungry.

"I'll get to know them once they get here," Wilson said. "I gave them my number. If they need something, they can let me know."