The Cincinnati Bengals could benefit from a good move at the NFL trade deadline.
Granted, we say that every year and the team doesn’t typically do much, if anything.
But it feels especially important to highlight this year with the team struggling out of the gates to that 3-3 mark in large part due to Joe Burrow’s calf injury. Tack on nagging injuries to key roster members Tee Higgins and Chidoboe Auwzie, plus just generally underperforming areas, and one can see why they might benefit from some outside help.
So with it being the bye week and that October 31 NFL trade deadline looming, here are some names the Bengals might want to pick up the phone and ask about.
Panthers WR Terrace Marshall
We threw this one out in a full breakdown already. But the gist is simple — the Panthers are sellers and Marshall is out of the offense. Reuniting him with Joe Burrow as emergency Higgins depth, now and next summer, would come at a cheap cost.
Commanders DE Chase Young
Our longshot trade idea breakdown, Young would be a half-season rental that might cost in the range of a third-round pick. But it’s clear he’s done in Washington and if they can look past the prior injury woes, the Bengals would stunningly benefit from having him rush the passer with Trey Hendrickson.
Titans RB Derrick Henry
It’s certainly unrealistic, but someone else wanted to see it happen and explained why and it’s hard to argue. Henry looks like his old dominant self this year and nobody has stepped up behind Joe Mixon. The Titans might just be sellers, too.
Broncos RB Samaje Perine
A re-up with Perine makes too much sense not to happen. He left despite a similar contract offer in search of more playing time and has effectively gotten less so far with one of the league’s worst teams. It would be a cheap move that provides the offense another capable element.
Vikings DE Danielle Hunter
If the Bengals can find a way to chop the contract number down a bit, Hunter is still just 28 years old and has eight sacks this season already, after 10.5 last year. He’s had 14.5 or more in two of his last five seasons so far.
Jets DE Carl Lawson
How about this for a reunion idea? Lawson is on the last year of his deal with the Jets and the rumors say he’s available. He’s off to a slow start this year, but had seven sacks and 26 pressures the year before that after coming back from injury. In a rotation with Hendrickson and others, he’d be pretty deadly.
Chiefs RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire
This would require some coordination between fierce rivals. But the Bengals need running back depth help and Edwards-Helaire is more than familiar with Burrow after their LSU days. He’s got elite speed the offense needs and has just 30 carries and six targets through six gams with the Chiefs this year.
Patriots DE Josh Uche
A former second-round pick on the last year of his deal, Uche hasn’t been getting a ton of playing time and the Patriots might be massive sellers soon. In a rotation with the Bengals, he might get back closer to the guy who had 11.5 sacks last season.
Eagles DE Derek Barnett
Barnett has never really reached that Round 1 potential from 2017. He’s coming off a season-ending injury that cost him 2022 and not playing much. He’d be a half-season rental with an expiring contract who would have plenty to prove in a rotation.
Patriots TEs Hunter Henry and Mike Gesicki
Most teams will probably call the Patriots about wideout Kendrick Bourne. But Henry and Gesicki have less than 20 catches apiece through six games. Henry is the bigger surprise because he isn’t getting the anticipated redzone chances — because the Patriots never reach that part of the field.
