The Cincinnati Bengals don’t figure to be overly active at the NFL trade deadline.
That’s largely been the case in the past at the deadline. It’s also the case overall with trades for the team as it only makes minor moves here and there that usually return pretty good value (ex: B.J. Hill).
Still, this Tuesday’s 4 p.m. ET trade deadline is a little more interesting than most in the wake of the injury news surrounding Ja’Marr Chase.
Should the Bengals want to make a small move that boosts depth at pretty much any spot, these are some guys they could consider moving.
G Jackson Carman
Carman’s pretty much the poster boy for a Bengals trade at this point. The team doesn’t usually cough up cheap contracts so soon but Carman is a pretty eyebrow-raising case. He’s had two chances to run away with a starting job after being a second-round pick and flopped twice. He’s not even active on gameday while a fourth-rounder starts in his place. It’s a stunning situation, but another team could always be convinced they’re the ones capable of unlocking his upside.
RB Trayveon Williams
Running backs aren’t going to return wild value by any means but for a contender looking to squeak out every advantage, something is better than nothing. Williams has always flashed big upside but now sits fourth on the depth chart. If another team comes calling, it’s a no-brainer.
WR Trent Taylor or WR Mike Thomas
Again, small stuff. The Bengals are hurting a bit at wideout right now but have some interesting depth. If another team wants to add a strong special-teams player, the Bengals still have the likes of Trenton Irwin and Kwamie Lassiter II available for call-ups from the practice squad.
LB Clay Johnston
Remember the guy with the critical, critical playoff stop? That’s Johnston and he’s buried on the depth chart at a surprisingly-strong position. With Markus Bailey back from injury and Joe Bachie still floating around on the depth chart, Johnston could go soak up a ton of snaps for another team while returning the Bengals some mild value via trade.
Honorable mentions
Some other names to keep in mind
- CB Eli Apple
- DL Jay Tufele
- DE Cam Sample
- P Drue Chrisman
Most of these probably aren’t happening but worth pointing out. If the team really, really likes Cam Taylor-Britt and doesn’t want to deal with a “controversy” Apple could go. But moving a starter corner is pretty much a no-go for a Super Bowl contender unless another team comes in with something wild. But the old-young consideration is there with a second-rounder needing to play. They could always sell high on Tufele before DJ Reader comes back. Sample is a fun prospect but the depth with the likes of Jeff Gunter is there. And Chrisman is on the practice squad as a long-term asset but if another team loses a starter, there might be value in a move. Again, highly unlikely, but some scenarios to consider.
