The Cincinnati Bengals aren’t likely to make a “blockbuster” deal ahead of the NFL’s trade deadline.
A smaller, measured move that presents good value, though? That’s certainly on the table.
One such idea comes from ESPN’s Bill Barnwell, who proposes the Bengals ship veteran tight end Tanner Hudson to the Philadelphia Eagles for a late-round draft pick:
“Twenty-nine-year-old tight ends with limited track records of production aren’t going to transform an offense, but Hudson could be a reliable pair of hands in an offense that uses multi-tight end sets. The Eagles were using 12 personnel on a league-high 33.6% of their snaps before Dallas Goedert went down because of a hamstring injury Sunday, which is expected to cost him time.”
The Bengals currently enjoy a great problem to have at tight end — they have too many, rostering five.
Cincinnati brought on Mike Gesicki in free agency and rookie Erick All Jr. has forced his way onto the field, to the point he outsnapped Gesicki last week. Drew Sample’s value as a blocker has him playing more snaps than anyone at the position and the team doesn’t want to lose its other promising rookie, Tanner McLachlan.
That leaves Hudson as the odd man out. Yes, the team would like to have him available if Gesicki needs to miss time. But keeping five tight ends isn’t feasible—especially when that roster spot could have gone to areas struggling with depth such as pass-rusher and cornerback.
Trimming the roster in one area to open up space at another and receiving a draft pick? The Bengals should call the Eagles and give his idea a finder’s fee.
