The Cincinnati Bengals typically remain conservative when it comes to trades, which is a big point to keep in mind ahead of Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline (4 p.m. ET).
But with the Ja’Marr Chase injury hanging over the team and some obvious depth needs, it’s always worth looking at the overall trade market to see if there is anything that might interest the coaches and front office.
After all, the current Super Bowl roster doesn’t happen without savvy moves such as acquiring B.J. Hill not too long ago.
As such, here’s a look at some names potentially on the block who should perhaps interest the Bengals.
LB Isaiah Simmons, Cardinals
Simmons feels like a guy the Cardinals could end up moving. The high draft pick’s raw skill set should have other teams interested, and that should include the Bengals if the price is cheap. He’s been a bust, but perhaps a different system and specialized usage could help him recover. Plus, he would be versatile depth.
DE Tarell Basham, Cowboys
There is little room for the former third-round pick in Dallas at this point. He’d be a solid edge rusher to bring on for depth purposes, especially if the likes of Cam Sample and Jeff Gunter have attendance woes. He’s got plenty of experience and has totaled 11 sacks since 2017.
TE Dan Arnold, Jaguars
Arnold isn’t seeing much work in Jacksonville after Evan Engram’s arrival, among other factors. He’d be cheap, and it’s hard to complain about adding a 6-foot-6 pass-catching threat. The Bengals have had problems with tight end depth this year already.
DE Jerry Hughes, Texans
Hughes is 34, but don’t be fooled — he’s already up to five sacks this season and continues to grade well. Maybe the Texans don’t want to lose that production, but he’d be one heck of a rental for a Bengals team that could use more pass-rushing depth.
DT Da'Ron Payne, Commanders
Unlikely, but worth asking about. Payne has been the subject of trade speculation for a while now, and the former first-round pick is in the final year of his deal. If the Commanders feel they can’t retain him, maybe they take compensation. Payne is a superb interior pass rusher who could create quite an interesting tandem with B.J. Hill, at least for half a season.
DL Matt Ioannidis, Panthers
Ioannidis was one of the most underrated defenders in the league for years in Washington, and now he’s having a strong showing in Carolina. A versatile veteran on a one-year deal, he’d be a great fit or the multiple looks up front the Bengals love to roll out.
All the WRs
No, but seriously. We’ve already compiled the list of wideouts the Bengals should target with Ja’Marr Chase out. Maybe they don’t because Chase could always be back sooner than expected and they have good trust in depth guys and call-up candidates like Trenton Irwin. But it’s hard to ignore names like Marvin Jones Jr. and Jerry Jeudy. It’s a wide-ranging market, and grabbing some insurance might not be a bad idea.
