The Cincinnati Bengals could end up being buyers or sellers at the NFL trade deadline this year with minor moves in either of those directions.
If it’s as a buyer, the offensive line could be on the menu given the performance and availability of the line’s interior so far this season over the course of a 5-2 start.
Over at Bleacher Report, Brent Sobleski floated a Los Angeles Rams offensive lineman as the perfect trade target for the Bengals — and it isn’t old friend Andrew Whitworth.
Sobleski says it’s Bobby Evans the Bengals should target and makes a solid point about his past with Zac Taylor:
“Ideally, the Bengals could make a more impactful move, but options are limited because offensive line depth is suspect around the league. In Evans’ case, he knows Zac Taylor’s system because of their linked history with the Rams organization. He should immediately compete at right guard or be a possibility at right tackle next season since Riley Reiff is on a one-year deal.”
Evans, a third-round pick in 2019 the Rams traded up to get, was a high-upside prospect who blocked for Kyler Murray at Oklahoma. He’s got tackle and guard experience at both levels now and he’s currently serving as a versatile backup across the board for the Rams.
The lack of proven production at the pro level is a mark against Evans. But the experience on the inside and edges would make him a high-upside backup and, alongside second-round rookie Jackson Carman, give the Bengals another long-term option on the right side of the offensive line.
This is the sort of smaller move the Bengals would indeed make, should they make any at all. They have plenty of players they could offer in a trade, too.
