The Cincinnati Bengals need help at key areas like edge rusher, in the secondary and on the interior of the offensive line.
Those needs — paired with major upcoming investments like Ja’Marr Chase’s contract extension — aren’t going to be easy to address in one offseason.
Hence, an outlet like Bleacher Report suggesting that the Bengals make a move for New Orleans Saints pass rusher Chase Young:
For one, the Bengals are trying to claw their way back into the mix after a slow start. Adding a talent like Young to the defense front can provide the injection of talent they need to turn the tide, get after the quarterback and bolster a run defense that really needs the help. The other advantage would be getting a half-season look at Young before determining what to do with him in 2025.
Young, the second pick in 2020, joined the Saints this past offseason and has had a mild showing on what is effectively a one-year, prove-it deal.
On one hand, making a move for a player like Young (especially from a likely seller such as the Saints) would make some sense, as it would give the Bengals a half-season rental to evaluate.
On the other, Young has issues against the run, and the Bengals already have a high-upside player in the rotation with similar strengths and weaknesses with Joseph Ossai.
Still, Young and the Saints are a good example of the type of contract, player and trade partner the Bengals should be looking at around the deadline — if they want to attempt to start fixing the long-term roster now, that is.
