Ahead of the NFL trade deadline, Cincinnati Bengals fans will be lucky if the team makes even a smaller move to address depth along the offensive and defensive trenches or at cornerback.
Making a blockbuster, can’t-miss trade is simply out of the question.
Still, with Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reporting that other teams have called the Cleveland Browns about Myles Garrett, Bleacher Report’s Alex Kay listed four trades the team the Bengals just beat wouldn’t be able to refuse.
The writeup lists the Bengals and suggests the trade package for Garrett would include first-round picks in the 2025 and 2026 drafts, plus third-round picks from those drafts and a 2026 fourth, too:
Acquiring Myles Garrett would instantly elevate a Bengals defense that has mightily struggled against top-tier opponents. If Cincinnati’s brass truly believes this team can fully reverse its early season fortunes and go on a run by adding one more piece, it would be well worth the high price of prying the reigning Defensive Player of the Year away from an in-state AFC North rival.
Barring a historic reversal in behavior though, the Bengals wouldn’t cough up a first-round pick for pretty much anyone. That includes Garrett, the guy on a $125 million contract with cap hits of roughly $20 million in each season through 2026.
Yes, Garrett and Trey Hendrickson rushing the passer would be one of the NFL’s great tandems. But beyond matters of trade compensation and cash (they still have to pay Ja’Marr Chase, too), these are in-state rivals from the AFC North, making any sort of deal between the two more unlikely.
Still, the framework for the idea is sound — the Bengals need to get Hendrickson some help. But it won’t be via sacrificing the future for the present in such a manner.
